My vision for a world without barriers

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Nadina Imamović is a UN Volunteer Programme Associate with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she brings both personal insight and professional strength to promote disability rights. Her journey began long before her current role. In high school, she joined the U.S. Department’s Youth Exchange and Study programme, spending ten months in Ohio and earning recognition as Student of the Month. That was the beginning of her social activism and what she calls her "power of giving back.” 

Nadina has two degrees in social work from the University of Sarajevo. Through student exchanges, she connected with people from all walks of life, especially persons with disabilities—learning firsthand about their needs and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Those friendships still support her today. 

Young Ghanaians are leading, not waiting

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Innovation in Ghana isn’t happening in glass towers or tech parks. It’s happening in dusty classrooms, crowded bootcamps, and community halls. On International Youth Day, we bring you the story of two UN Volunteers who have a simple message: Show up. Listen. Build. And never underestimate what young people can achieve when someone believes in them. Let's hear from Rafiatu and Samuel, young Ghanaians, who aren’t waiting for permission to lead; they’re already doing it.

Meet Rafiatu Umarayi Alhassan and Samuel Peprah Bekoe. Both are UN Volunteer Field Coordinators and part of Young Africa Innovates (YAI) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ghana, a bold initiative helping young people across all 16 regions of the country turn their ideas into solutions. 

Online Volunteer brings clarity to spatial data

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A Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist, Andrii Nahornyi, transforms complex data into sharp, visual stories that drive real-world decisions. He has a degree in Geomatics and a background in spatial data analysis, cartography, and remote sensing. In 2025, Andrii joined the United Nations Development Programme's City Experiment Fund as an Online Volunteer, helping cities across Europe and Central Asia reimagine urban life. His GIS skills-powered projects are enhancing urban development—one map at a time.

Andrii began his assignment by designing a strategic plan focused on the geospatial component of the project, researching each participating city’s geographic, historical, and socio-economic context. This helped him gain a deeper understanding of the forces shaping urban development.  

"Once the groundwork was laid, I began sourcing data—vector, raster, and statistical—while organizing everything in a way that would support efficient geospatial analysis. This step was more than just data management; it was about building a foundation for meaningful insights," shares Andrii.

Peace in pixels: Digitizing Timor-Leste’s history

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The Republic of Korea’s path to peace has taught it a powerful lesson: rebuilding isn’t enough—remembering matters. The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) supported an initiative in Timor-Leste to digitize the Chega National Center for Conflict Reconciliation and Peacebuilding. In partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Jakarta and INFORDEPE, the project turned painful history into a tool for learning, helping ensure the trauma of the Indonesian occupation is never forgotten—or repeated. Dayoung Jeong, a young Korean professional and fully funded UN Volunteer, helped carry this mission forward—combining personal growth and a commitment to peace through education.

Dayoung served as a UN Volunteer Education Associate in Timor-Leste from August 2023 to August 2024. She was driven by her dedication to UNESCO’s mission and the strength she admired in the Timorese people. 

Dayoung reflects on how preserving the past can breathe new life into a place once defined by trauma. 

From crops to confidence: Women planting the future

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In Colombia’s rural heartlands, where women make up nearly half the agricultural workforce, the Raíces, mujeres sembradoras del cambio project is helping them grow—not just crops, but confidence, leadership, and independence. Led by UN Women with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and Colombia’s Ministry of Equality, the initiative equips women with the tools to earn more, lead their communities, and rebuild lives shaped by hardship and conflict. Ae Young Jung is a Korean national who completed a six-month assignment with UN Women Colombia through a fully funded volunteering opportunity from September 2024 to March 2025.

Growing up in Ecuador, Ae Young saw Latin America’s social struggles up close—and they stayed with her. She’s driven by a commitment to support vulnerable communities and promote gender equality. This opportunity didn’t just connect her to a cause—it brought together her Korean roots and the place that shaped her worldview.

From UN Volunteer to serving at the International Criminal Court

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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."

After she graduated, Yoojeong discovered that being a Korean national, she could apply for the fully funded UN Volunteer opportunities with the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). She sent in her application for the role of a UN Volunteer Operational Data Management Associate with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). 

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