"Ecuador está marcado por una larga historia de exclusión de los pueblos indígenas y un diálogo intercultural frágil, lo que continúa generando tensiones", explica Noémie. "A pesar de que la Constitución reconoce al país como intercultural y plurinacional, aún existe una comprensión limitada de lo que estos conceptos significan realmente, tanto en principio como en la práctica." 

Daria still remembers the moment it all came together. “When I saw the UN Volunteer vacancy in 2022, it felt like everything aligned—the personal connection, the long‑held dream of working with the United Nations.” She applied, got the offer, said her goodbyes—and soon after, was on a flight to Minsk. Originally from the Russian Federation, Daria joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Belarus as a UN Volunteer.

Working remotely across borders and time zones, Online Volunteers embed global expertise directly into UNDP’s daily work—proving that impact is no longer bound by geography. Like Kobchat, Colman Hands, is also an Online Volunteer. He is an accomplished energy and sustainability professional, with a graduate degree in Sustainability and Environmental Systems and a bachelor's in Project Management.

What is your educational background? I have a bachelor’s degree in Russian Studies/Political Science and a master’s degree in International Relations with focus on conflicts and transformations in the Middle East.

“Ecuador is marked by a long history of exclusion of Indigenous peoples and fragile intercultural dialogue, which continues to generate tensions,” Noémie explains. “Despite the Constitution recognizing the country as intercultural and plurinational, there is still a limited understanding of what these concepts truly mean, both in principle and in practice”. 

Working closely with the Independent Electoral Commission, I focus on the next electoral cycle (2026–2027). One of the most rewarding parts of my work has been joining a nationwide training mission across all ten regions of the country. 

“In the world of innovation and development, no one has all the answers. Becoming a UN Volunteer means stepping forward because you care enough to find solutions together,” shares Mariam. 

This initiative wasn’t just about rolling out a system—it showed what’s possible when drawing on local expertise.

March 2025 — Igniting change through youth

“Peacebuilding here is about patience.” In Katsina, Dennis Bwala is a UN Volunteer with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Northwest Prevention Facility, and spends his days connecting local authorities, security forces, and communities that often don’t trust each other.My role is to facilitate dialogue, strengthen partnerships, and ensure that our interventions are inclusive and neutral, so communities feel ownership over the solutions."