Yoojeong Jeong’s journey into refugee protection did not begin in the field—but in the pages of her Master’s thesis on Rohingya refugees. Yet even as she researched, a deeper calling stirred. “I kept thinking—this isn’t where I’m meant to be. I need to be out there, with the people."

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region—where conflict, displacement, and environmental challenges intersect, Korean researcher Sihyun Park volunteered for sustainable development with support from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). As a fully funded UN Volunteer based in Jordan, she relied on research to develop practical solutions. Her assignment, which lasted a year and concluded in September 2025, offers insights into the impact of volunteerism in complex settings. Let’s take a closer look at her journey.

The wheels of the dark grey Australian military aircraft kissed the tarmac—no, slammed it—sending a tremor through the ground. A shudder rippled outward, kicking up a furious halo of dust. The aircraft, all muscle and menace, rumbled to a halt beneath the brown cloud, its fuselage gleaming like a predator freshly landed in hostile territory. “Welcome to East Timor,” blurted out Paul Guering, an Irishman and United Nations Volunteer (UNV) official, as the scorching heat of Dili, the capital greeted us on a sunny afternoon in late June 1999. Paul was overseeing the deployment of the first batch of UN Volunteers from a temporary staging base in Darwin, Australia, to East Timor. Nearly 100 of us were on that plane, a motley crew of veteran UN peacekeepers, civilian police officers, and bright-eyed volunteers from across the globe.

Half of the people on our planet are 30 or younger, and this is expected to reach over 57 by the end of 2030. Today, on International Youth Day, we highlight the absolute need to include young people as equals in development solutions, not afterthoughts. Want to shake the system? Start by handing them the mic. In this story, the mic is with Haruki Ume, who spoke to UN News at the UN Pavilion at Expo 2025, currently being held in the Japanese city of Osaka. Let's hear it from Haruki.

In war zones, where fear and destruction dominate, humanitarians and volunteers bring something powerful: courage. Often among the first to reach those in need, volunteers—including UN Volunteers—step into danger not for glory, but to save lives and ease suffering. Their work is urgent and essential. They deliver food under fire, set up shelters in rubble, and offer hope where there’s none. Through volunteering, they embody solidarity and compassion. Humanitarians are not a target, but often they are. On World Humanitarian Day, we pay homage to the fallen heroes, and salute the rising wave of humanitarians—under the theme Act for Humanity, recognizing those who step forward when it matters most.

In Chad and Niger, three national UN Volunteers are flipping the script on inclusion—by living it. Meet Kadiatou Moumouni, Damba Kalki Zoua, and Bekoutou Junior Masra. They’re part of a bold initiative placing UN Volunteers with disabilities in Resident Coordinator Offices across West and Central Africa. The idea is simple but powerful: if you want to build an inclusive system, start by including those who know what exclusion feels like. 

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where migration, conflict, and climate change collide, some communities face more danger than others. Displaced women, children, older people, and persons with disabilities are often hit hardest—and left out of national plans, climate solutions, and efforts to build global resilience. That’s why inclusion isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a must. With support from the Special Voluntary Fund (SVF), UN Volunteers Jahidul Islam and Hiba Drizi are making sure crisis response and protection systems across the region don’t leave anyone behind.

Nearly half of Mozambican girls are married before they turn 18, with some as young as 15. The country has the fifth-highest rate of child marriage in the world. Child marriages cut short childhoods, block education, and trap girls in cycles of hardship. Ending child marriage isn’t just about laws—it’s about giving girls real choices and a fair shot at life. Eulália da Gloria Sambo is a UN Volunteer Programme Specialist with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Mozambique. Let's hear from Eulália about her efforts to end child marriage.