It is rather fitting that the first impression of Timor-Leste that UN Volunteer Sung-gil Lee recalls is the stifling heat he felt when he got off the plane from his home country, Korea, and stepped onto the Dili airport tarmac. That day in February, 2016, Sung-gil reported for his assignment as a UN Volunteer Specialist for Environment with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“It is very important to encourage youth to take ownership of key issues affecting their community and to voice these to the local government.” Hindprabha Karve is a national UN Youth Volunteer District Coordinator in the state of Maharashtra, western region of India. The state’s Thane-Palghar region is home to the Katkaris – a particularly vulnerable tribal group. The Katkaris are driven to leave their homes due to crushing poverty and a complete lack of traditional employment. The displacement of families has caused rampant malnutrition in Palghar district. Some 600 children died of malnourishment in the district in 2016 alone.

“The state authorities view the volunteers with Nehru Yuva Kendra as people who intervene to get the job done.” Toney Thomas is a national UN Volunteer District Youth Coordinator in the state of Kerala, south of India. One of the challenges faced by the state’s Ernakulam district is open defecation. The tribal population residing in the district continues to practice primitive traditional methods, including defecating in the open. This is a result of lack of education and limited connection with the outside world.

“We have to mobilize youth and women to be part of the action.” Sangita Dahal is a national UN Volunteer District Youth Coordinator in Namchi, Sikkim, the northeastern state of India. South Sikkim is emerging as one of the fastest developing regions in the country, and its district Namchi’s women desire to acquire skills and explore livelihood options to be self-sufficient. Youth are perceived as vulnerable to anti-social activities, including drug abuse and trafficking.

En la respuesta a la emergencia por el terremoto de abril de 2016 en Ecuador, mi trabajo como Voluntaria ONU nacional, Oficial de Protección, con la Organización Internacional para las Migraciones (OIM) consistía en promover la participación de las mujeres y de las adolescentes en los procesos de toma de decisiones dentro de los albergues.

"I provide peer education to youth in my community–especially to girls–on rape and sexual exploitation," says Josephine Monger, national UN Volunteer Field Monitor with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Liberia. She is one of 18 UN Volunteers serving with UNDP in the country.

“Simply because women are engaged in economic activity does not always mean that they have decent work or that their contribution is being fully recognized.” Anita Bianchi is a UN Youth Volunteer in Private Sector Development with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sudan. Her assignment is funded by the Government of Italy.