Meet Liu Shanshan, a postgraduate student from China specializing in Hindi literature at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. In September 2024, Liu traded textbooks for hands-on experience in international development, joining the UN system as a UN Volunteer with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) at the Regional Office for South Asia. Her volunteer assignment was funded by the Chinese Young Volunteers Association (CYVA) and aimed to highlight youth voices in peace and justice.
Liu served as a Communications Assistant with UNODC from September 2024 to March 2025, focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Originally assigned to New Delhi, Liu faced unexpected visa delays that kept her working remotely for several months. Undeterred, she continued collaborating across borders until she finally landed in Kathmandu, Nepal—her first experience of UN life on the ground.
What Liu actually did
Liu wasn’t just writing emails or making posters—she was crafting stories. Her daily grind included, besides stories of young people to designing infographics and building social media campaigns that made people stop scrolling and start thinking.
I worked on RiseUp4Peace, a youth empowerment initiative that reached schools and universities with messages of non-violence, gender equality, and digital safety." Liu helped write the impact report, designed eye-catching materials, and made sure UNODC’s message hit the right notes with the right people.
Peacebuilding, one post at a time
Through her work, Liu helped turn the 17 SDGs into real conversations. Her communication efforts gave young people a platform to speak out on justice, civic engagement, and drug prevention. It wasn’t just a promotion of peace—rather, building it, one story and one campaign at a time.
The leap from remote to field
Let’s be honest—volunteering isn’t always smooth sailing. Liu’s biggest challenge came in the form of a rejected visa application, which left her working remotely while her peers were already on the ground. The experience was isolating, she admits. But Liu didn’t let that stop her. She stayed in close contact with UNV teams in India and China, and after persistent coordination, she was reassigned to Nepal. That shift gave her the in-person collaboration she had been missing. Liu emerged from the experience sharper, bolder, and more globally attuned. She learned to tailor messages for diverse audiences and led youth-focused conversations with confidence. Drafting reports, running campaigns, and organizing events weren’t just tasks—they became immersive lessons in international cooperation.
Navigating the maze
Liu believes UNV has made significant progress in engaging young people. But for volunteers crossing borders, navigating visa processes can still feel like a maze. “Many young volunteers face logistical and bureaucratic hurdles when trying to secure work permits for their assigned duty stations,” Liu explains. To address this, she suggests offering clear visa guidance, direct support from local UN offices, and contingency plans when issues arise. And once the assignment ends, keeping volunteers connected through learning opportunities and networking helps them remain part of the UN family.
Advice for aspiring volunteers
“Be proactive. Stay curious. Ask questions,” Liu says. “Your ideas matter!”
For her, the UNV motto—Once a UN Volunteer, always a UN Volunteer—isn’t just a slogan. It’s a badge of honour. The assignment has ended, but the spirit of service and global citizenship lives on.
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