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.
"When you speak at your age, the young people listen to you"
Around the world today, people 50 years of age and older are contributing their passion, time and expertise to volunteering assignments with United Nations partners.
Many are drawn to volunteerism later in life as a way to contribute and give back to the societies and communities around them. For others, volunteering is a way to fulfil long-held ambitions, explore new fields of work and develop new skills.
Whatever their motivation, the work of UNV’s partners and the places they live are enriched by the contributions of more than 600 older volunteers undertaking national and international assignments across the world.