Page 114 - 80 YEARS OF VOLUNTEER IMPACT WITH FAO

Oshan M. Gunathilake

FROM UN VOLUNTEER TO SCHOOL

ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST WITH FAO

Before joining the UN, Oshan M. Gunathilake was deeply rooted in grassroots volunteerism across Sri Lanka—supporting rural
schools, working on sustainable livelihoods, and encouraging youth networks. His four-year journey as a UN Volunteer took
him from transitional justice and reconciliation to youth innovation and community engagement, working with UNDP, the UN
Resident Coordinator’s Office, and United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.

“Becoming a UN Volunteer allowed me to get an idea of how local realities may differ from theoretical designs,” he says. “It
reshaped how I view development: not as something done to communities, but something co-created with them through
dialogue, participation, and sustained solidarity.”

A defining moment came while documenting stories of conflict-affected families. “It wasn’t just a story to document. It was a cry
for truth, for recognition, for peace,” he recalls. Moments like these, and the countless programme participants who still greet
him with a heartfelt “Aiya [brother], do you remember me?”, affirmed his commitment to community-driven change.

110 Today, Oshan works as a School Engagement Specialist with FAO, supporting the Circular Economy in the Food Sector project,
in Sri Lanka. “I see education not just as teaching, but as a space to nurture ethical leadership, critical thinking and care for our
shared future.”

Reflecting on FAO’s 80th anniversary, he adds: “It represents a powerful bridge between community development, sustainable
transformation and innovation.”

Oshan M. Gunathilake, former
UN Volunteer, is now a staff
member at FAO.
[Oshan M. Gunathilake, 2022]