Page 94 - 80 YEARS OF VOLUNTEER IMPACT WITH FAO

Education Seeds of wisdom: Advocating, educating, empowering

N’Charick Mafinè Ouattara

BREAKING BARRIERS AND BUILDING BRIDGES:

VOLUNTEERING ONLINE FOR FOOD SECURITY

For N’Charick, becoming an Online Volunteer started with a passion: humanitarian work. Driven
by the idea of helping others by breaking language barriers, she saw volunteering with FAO as a
powerful way to contribute.

Her journey began virtually from her home country, Burkina Faso, from where she supported
FAO Italy with the translation of Ethical Guidelines for Evaluation from English to French. "It was
90 technical,” she recalls. "But it allowed me to learn more about UN terminology and work and it was
truly rewarding.”

During her two years as an Online Volunteer, one memorable project brought her together with
translators from Chad, the United States of America, and beyond, collaborating to translate an
entire international forum. "We learned a lot from each other and expanded our networks," she
shares.

Today, as a professional translator and interpreter, N’Charick credits her UNV experience for
sharpening her skills and shaping her global mindset. “Being a UN Volunteer helped me get where I
am today, professionally speaking. I also learned (and I continue to learn) so much from colleagues
and mentors with extensive UN experience. Personally, this journey has given me hope and strength
for the future.”

N’Charick Mafinè Ouattara, Online Volunteer from Burkina Faso, supported FAO Italy.
[N’Charick Mafinè Ouattara, 2025]