Be Present. Be Open. Be Human.

Urvashi Bundel, UN Volunteer Refugee Status Determination Officer, UNHCR Somalia
print pdf
Low quality, print optimized High quality, color print

I don’t carry a stethoscope or deliver food. I don’t build shelters or distribute clothing. I work with something less visible; but just as urgent. I listen. My name is Urvashi and I am a UN Volunteer with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Somalia.

As a Refugee Status Determination Officer, I help people fleeing war, persecution, and violence find protection. I meet them at their most vulnerable, often just after they’ve crossed a border or survived a life-threatening journey. My job is to hear their stories and help decide if they qualify for refugee status. In simple terms, I help them access safety through the law.

I have worked in Ethiopia and now in Somalia. 

"I come from the same community I serve"

Didier Habimana, UN Volunteer Refugee Youth Coordinator, UNHCR Kenya
print pdf
Low quality, print optimized High quality, color print

The UN is not just buildings and acronyms. It is people. People who care, who listen, who act. My name is Didier Habimana. I serve as a UN Volunteer Refugee Youth Coordinator with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Kenya. And I believe that if you bring passion, patience, and persistence, there is space for you here. 

Long before the UN Volunteer role, I was already doing volunteer work. I grew up volunteering—joining community initiatives, working with refugee-led organizations, and offering support where I could. In 2015, I became an interpreter for UNHCR. That experience opened my eyes. I saw what was happening behind the scenes in humanitarian response. I saw how systems worked—and sometimes, how they did not. I saw spaces where I could contribute more meaningfully. 

The way back home to Syria

Yeran Kejijian, UNV Country Coordinator for Lebanon and Syria
print pdf
Low quality, print optimized High quality, color print

As the world marks World Refugee Day, I find myself reflecting not only as the UNV Country Coordinator for Syria, but as someone whose own story is deeply intertwined with displacement. My grandparents’ journey as refugees shaped my understanding of resilience, and my work—from Lebanon to Syria—has only deepened my commitment to standing in solidarity with those forced to flee. This is more than a professional mission—it’s personal.

The political transition in Syria, which started in December 2024, presents a historic opportunity today—promoting justice, reconciliation, and sustainable peace. During my recent mission to Damascus, I couldn’t help but think of the millions of Syrians who crossed in the opposite direction over the last decade, forced to leave their homes in search of safety and dignity. And today, a shift gradually unfolds. Signs of cautious political stability, and with it, new opportunities for return, for recovery, and hope.

What matters most—people, land and future

United Nations Volunteers
print pdf
Low quality, print optimized High quality, color print

“Volunteering is my way of giving back. It allows me to be a bridge between cultures, people, and knowledge.” says Akinori Miyomoto. While Tharinduni Waththuhewage shares, “Volunteering is about creating space for others to thrive. Every small action matters when it uplifts a community.” And for Sayumi Jayawardene, “Impact isn’t always loud or immediate. It’s in the systems we change and the futures we shape.” These voices echo across Sri Lanka, where UN Volunteers with the United Nations Development Programme's Climate and Environment are not only promoting environmental sustainability but also gender equality. Let's hear more about their volunteer actions.

Fully Funded UN Volunteer from Japan, Akinori Miyamoto, a Project Specialist, connects smallholder farmers to market techniques.

Subscribe to