The campaign has reached over 10 million people across all 54 African countries and its content has been viewed more than 30 million times across various social media platforms.
What does it mean to be African? Showcasing 54 Faces of Africa
Challenging the stereotypes through filmmaking in Cameroon
I am Sama Mildred. I am 27 years old and I come from Cameroon. I am a documentary filmmaker. My journey has brought me closer to understanding my African identity, challenging the stereotypes that often overshadow it. I want to tell you my story.
In 2019, one of my films was screened in Germany, and a particular scene sparked unexpected reactions. It showed a family sharing a meal from one plate—a common practice in my Cameroonian household, symbolizing togetherness and community. Yet, some viewers interpreted it as a symbol of poverty, a reminder of how easily our cultural narratives are misread. In Cameroon, we sometimes joke by calling our country "The Continent," hinting at a wider misconception that Africa is one homogenous place.
Supporting children's rights in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde
Kátia Bampoky and Clara Garcia are UN Volunteers with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. From supporting community health workers to educating children on hygiene and access to clean water, both Kátia and Clara add value to UNICEF's mandate and are our inspiration in action.
Kátia Bampoky is an Inclusive Health Care Officer with UNICEF in Guinea-Bissau and supports child protection and health services for vulnerable children and their families. She focuses on training social workers and community health professionals on inclusion so care is given to everyone without discrimination. She also supports cases of violence against children and women—including gender-based violence.
UNV partners with academia for State of the World's Volunteerism Report 2026
The global contributions of volunteers and their significance to peace and development worldwide remain largely unquantified. There are three challenges in this respect—the lack of comprehensive data sets on volunteering, the obstacles faced when attempting to compare these data sets, stemming from the use of various tools and methodologies, and the absence of a cohesive measurement framework.
International Volunteer Day 2024
It is simply not possible to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without including people at all stages, at all levels, and at all times.
Volunteering makes people part of the solutions. Volunteerism lets people and communities participate in their development.
Passion to purpose through volunteering in Jamaica
Priyanka Mais is from Portland, Jamaica. She is 23. Priyanka knew her life path would include giving back to her country. Brought up with limited resources and not having many opportunities while growing up, she dreamed of a future where everyone would have access to all the opportunities she saw in developed areas such as Kingston. As a UN Volunteer Economics and Data Management Assistant with the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office—she is turning that dream into reality.
I knew that this is not the way I want myself or others to live—shares Priyanka. “I want people to be able to access whatever they need. So, being able to contribute to development, to turn my passions into purposes, I feel very fulfilled. It feels like a dream come true.”
From very early on, Priyanka had interest in International Relations—this was further motivated by being part of Model United Nations in secondary school. That curiosity soon led her to a degree in the same field and a goal of joining the United Nations.
The power of words—a blog
In these absolutely chaotic times, how does one ever sit down to write something full of hope, dreams, ambitions. As a writer, I often put the same question to myself. Yet, precisely, it's times like this that I find words to be the most appropriate funnel. The power of words through which, we allow our imagination to soar beyond the confines of the present. However, at United Nations Volunteers, that becomes a tad easy—we have stories to tell. Stories of volunteers from around the world and how their local-level support brings about positive change.
A former combatant of an armed militia now runs sewing workshops to support her children. A senior retiree embarks on a second career as a volunteer, aiding agricultural businesses and enhancing food security. In remote forests, volunteers conduct malaria surveillance to curb its spread.