Nairobi, 19 February 2018 - UNV’s Deputy Executive Coordinator, Mr. Toily Kurbanov, will be travelling to South Sudan and Kenya between February 19 and February 23, 2018. The mission seeks to advance volunteerism’s positive impact on provision of social services, employment, peace and reconciliation. Mr. Kurbanov will recognize the work of UN Volunteers in hardship conditions, promote volunteerism as a powerful means in achieving the Agenda 2030 and inform UNV’s partners about the organization’s new priorities in 2018-2021.

Nairobi, 19 February 2018 - UNV’s Deputy Executive Coordinator, Mr. Toily Kurbanov, will be travelling to South Sudan and Kenya between February 19 and February 23, 2018. The mission seeks to advance volunteerism’s positive impact on provision of social services, employment, peace and reconciliation. Mr. Kurbanov will recognize the work of UN Volunteers in hardship conditions, promote volunteerism as a powerful means in achieving the Agenda 2030 and inform UNV’s partners about the organization’s new priorities in 2018-2021.

Nairobi, 19 February 2018 - UNV’s Deputy Executive Coordinator, Mr. Toily Kurbanov, will be travelling to South Sudan and Kenya between February 19 and February 23, 2018. The mission seeks to advance volunteerism’s positive impact on provision of social services, employment, peace and reconciliation. Mr. Kurbanov will recognize the work of UN Volunteers in hardship conditions, promote volunteerism as a powerful means in achieving the Agenda 2030 and inform UNV’s partners about the organization’s new priorities in 2018-2021.

During conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies, sexual and reproductive health needs are easily overlooked – yet these needs are often staggering. UN Volunteers work in conflict-affected areas hand in hand with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) staff to deploy hygiene supplies, obstetric and family planning supplies, trained personnel, and other support to vulnerable populations, and works to ensure the needs of women and young people are served through both an emergency and the reconstruction phase.

Sudan is a vast and diverse country with many facets. The landscape itself is reminiscent of this diversity – Sudan goes from hot deserts to green areas around the Nile. The same diversity applies to the faces of the people you meet. My experience in engaging with women as part of my assignment has also been quite diverse. Armed conflict has incessantly affected the country. The role of women in the full spectrum of society is fluctuating. My volunteer assignment enables me to look at facets of this spectrum and contribute in any way I can.

Solomon focuses on supporting UNESCO's education component of the project, implementing literacy and numeracy programmes at cattle camps within the Lakes State pastoralist communities.  "As a volunteer, I have gained experience and understanding of the diverse ways of life of communities in the pastoral communities.  I am glad I am helping build their capacity and resilience." 

UN Volunteers Roselyn Owour, Epher Welavunuka, Petronila Khagai, Anne Munene and Jennifer Kibicho held a sensitization session with school girls to raise awareness about gender equality, the importance of going to school and not missing classes, and the challenges facing girls around the world. The school - World Hope Academy in the Kawangware slum in Nairobi - has a total student capacity of 400 children, most of them coming from poor families that live in the slums.

Alois Neza Sikuka (Zimbabwe) is a UN Volunteer Peace, Community & Security Specialist with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in South Sudan.

Bor, South Sudan: Mary works for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and she does an important job – she makes sure that our office is neat and clean, allowing us to carry on with our duties in a healthy environment. Mary is a widow who lives at the Protection of Civilians site (PoC) adjacent to the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) compound in Bor, Jonglei State, together with her five children, in precarious conditions and unable to leave the camp for fear of her life. We became friends and we started a language exchange.

Juba, South Sudan: I am working as a UN Volunteer Fire Safety Officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). My main field of work is Aviation, though I also have knowledge of structural fire safety.