Peacekeepers at heart: UN Volunteers serve for Western Sahara's future
In the quest for global peace, more than 1,300 UN Volunteers are currently serving with UN peacekeeping missions worldwide. They play pivotal roles in navigating nations through the arduous journey from conflict to peace. For the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, we shine a spotlight on the contributions of four international UN Volunteers within the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
Jean Bosco Bavuge embarked on his volunteering journey with MINURSO as a Water and Sanitation technician in 2021. Aiming to achieve efficiency and minimize risks, he facilitates the optimized utilization of natural resources.
Jean's expertise lies in designing effective water and wastewater treatment facilities, while ensuring compliance with international safety and environmental standards. He actively shares his extensive knowledge to strengthen his colleagues’ capacity, including military peacekeepers, in the realm of water and waste management.
Protecting health through sustainable water and waste management
In a world filled with environmental challenges, one dedicated volunteer steps up to make a difference. Meet Liudmyla Odud, a Ukrainian UN Volunteer Environmental Engineer with nine years of experience in water and sanitation. With a passion and motivation to assist vulnerable communities, Liudmyla has been serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for two years. She has taken on the responsibility of managing water, wastewater and solid waste in mission camps across Equatoria and Jonglei States.
With a wealth of knowledge and skills, Liudmyla always felt a calling to serve in places where help was most needed. Through her assignment, she strives to reduce waste and prevent the harmful effects of open waste burning, which causes air pollution and jeopardizes public health in Central, Eastern, Western Equatoria and Jonglei States.