The first time I found myself stuck on a red dirt road in rural Liberia, our car had sunk deep into the mud, and the sun was setting. No phone signal. No light. No nearby village. Just miles of rough road behind us—and ahead. When we eventually made it to Zwedru—a place often left off the map and usually unreachable, the lights were off, and there was no water. In that very moment, it seemed as if I had circled back to my childhood in Nepal—when we faced power outages and struggled with access to basic resources. But this time, it was different. I was in Liberia as a UN Volunteer working with UN Women.
Raised between Kathmandu and Dublin, and half Irish, half Nepali, I am shaped by two vibrant cultures on opposite ends of the world. That dual experience frames my perspective: I’ve seen the glaring inequalities that exist, but also the resilience of communities facing them.
I witnessed firsthand the struggles of people living in poverty in Nepal, where they often collected water from polluted rivers or endured prolonged power outages. But I also saw something incredible: how communities adapt, survive, and even thrive despite these hardships. The Nepal I knew at age four is very different from the Nepal I see at twenty-four. That change, that spirit of possibility, made me want to do something, not simply transactional, but for the sake of making a difference.
When I was offered the volunteer role in Liberia as a specialist, it was bittersweet! I panicked at first. I had never been to Africa. My family was worried—it took some convincing, and I felt a bit lost, battling imposter syndrome and unsure if I could rise to the challenge.
Still, despite the fear, I said yes. Despite the fear, I took the leap—and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
In Liberia, I was the first Knowledge Management Officer. What even is knowledge management, you may be thinking? One year ago, I was thinking the same. There was no blueprint, no set path. I am someone who loves structure and plans, so this was intimidating. But I realized I had a unique opportunity to innovate. I saw my role as a chance to build something new.
I help make sure that the valuable lessons and insights from UN Women Liberia’s work are not forgotten. I do this by writing down best practices, collecting what we learn from the field, supporting reports based on facts, and keeping this knowledge safe in systems and platforms. As the first person in this role, I’m especially excited to help find and fill gaps in gender knowledge. This will support UN Women Liberia to become a strong source of information on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
In my role, I often say: Knowledge is power—but only if it’s shared.
We can help make sure that lessons aren’t just learned—but applied, that stories aren’t just told—but heard. We, the volunteers, bring fresh energy, local insight, and most of all, solidarity. And through our efforts, we try to raise awareness of what needs to be highlighted.
Living and working in Liberia has stretched me in ways I never anticipated. Through every tough moment—whether it was navigating difficult roads or living with limited resources, I’ve become more resilient, more adaptive, and more connected to the people I serve.
I am particularly inspired by the women and girls I work with. The women showing up, day after day, to lead peacebuilding efforts in their communities. The girls finding their voices and fighting for a future free from harmful practices such as female genital mutilation. Their courage, their strength, has given me courage to bring their challenges to the public sphere. So, in essence, the people I serve have encouraged me in ways words can’t fully capture.
To anyone thinking about stepping into a role like this, my advice is simple: Jump in. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You don’t have to be fearless. But you do need to be willing to learn, to adapt, and to show up for people. And something tells me, since you’re reading this, you already are.
Looking back at that dirt road, stuck and uncertain, I see it now as a metaphor for my journey. It wasn’t about being stuck. It was about finding the strength to keep moving, to keep going—even when the path ahead is unclear.
The road to change isn’t always easy or smooth—but it’s worth every step.
