Contributing to durable peace in Cambodia
Deryck Fritz is the Director of the Integrated Electoral Support Group of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). In 1992, he served as a UN Volunteer District Electoral Supervisor with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). Deryck reflects on his time as a volunteer and the value of his experience on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme.
In 1992, I, and many others from all around the world, landed in Cambodia as part of the staggered deployment of around 700 United Nations Volunteers to support the Cambodian elections.
UN Volunteers are valuable resources to tackle food crises
In 2018, Mariagiovanna Costa started her assignment as a UN Volunteer Programme Officer with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Mali. She was part of a team delivering food assistance to the population of Mopti, a region affected by terrorism. Mariagiovanna is now a Portfolio Specialist with UNV's Regional Office for West and Central Africa. On the occasion of World Food Day, she shares insights from her volunteer assignment.
Three years ago, I left Italy to join the WFP team in Mali, a magnificent country of around 19 million inhabitants. As I had visited the country while attending the Bamako Sub-Regional Conference on Female Genital Mutilation in 2006, I was excited to rediscover the its unique culture, beautiful nature and vibrant marketplaces.