Page 32 - 80 YEARS OF VOLUNTEER IMPACT WITH FAO

Agriculture Working the land, securing the future

Davide Valenti

CONNECTING THE DOTS FROM APPLIED ECOLOGY

TO APPLIED IMPACT

After completing my graduate degree in Applied Ecology, I fulfilled a long-
held dream of traveling across South America. That journey opened my eyes:
I encountered incredible cultural diversity and different ways of life, but I also
witnessed significant environmental challenges that stayed with me.

When I returned home, a seed of purpose began to grow: to be part of the
region's sustainable development. That’s when I came across UNV, and before I
28 knew it, I was on a flight from Italy to my volunteer assignment: La Paz, Bolivia.
That was the beginning of an adventure that would define the next year of my
life.

For over a year, I served as a UN Volunteer with the Programme Unit of FAO
in Bolivia, contributing to a diverse portfolio of initiatives focused on natural
resource management. My work supported areas such as genetic resource
conservation, agrobiodiversity, sustainable forest management and climate
change mitigation among others.

Looking back, I truly value how much this office respects and recognizes the
contribution of UN Volunteers. Our roles are not only seen as meaningful, they
are genuinely appreciated. This experience taught me a great deal, about myself,
about UNV and the vital role in advancing human development, about the inner
workings of the United Nations and national governments. It also taught me Davide Valenti, UN Volunteer from Italy, during a natural
about Bolivia, a country of striking contrasts, rich cultures, diverse ecosystems, resource management field session with the FAO team
deep rooted traditions, and complex challenges. It is a land of stories, emotions, in Bolivia. [UNV, 2010]
beauty, colours, scents and unforgettable landscapes. I left deeply enriched,
with a broader perspective of the world around me and a deeper understanding
of the realities others face.