SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
In a remote village in Zambia, I am not just building infrastructure, I am building resilience, relationships, and respect.
Every day, I wake up to lush landscapes, fresh air, and the voices of a community that, at first, was unsure about my presence.
For me, volunteerism is all about authenticity, excellence, and integrity. It means embracing the environment I find myself in, accepting the reality of working in communities, and finding purpose beyond my comfort zone.
06 March 2025
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
My volunteering journey wasn’t a traditional one. I started as a journalist, chasing stories on the streets, driven by curiosity and the power of storytelling. But I wanted more than just reporting; I wanted to be part of the change. That’s when I found United Nations Volunteers. My first role was with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Nigeria, where I worked as a Communications Officer highlighting peace and justice under Sustainable Development Goal 16.
03 March 2025
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
As a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Isiolo County, Blasio harnesses digital tools like mobile data collection and data visualization to turn complex information into actionable insights.
27 January 2025
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Among these volunteers is Akola Munyiri, who served as a Project Support Associate at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA) in Nairobi, Kenya. Today, Akola’s experience provides us with an insider's look at the vital work that volunteers do to fight against trafficking.
21 January 2025
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 15: Life on land, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
My dream had always been to work in construction and pursue a career in electrical engineering. However, the accident forced me to reconsider my future.
Refusing to let my disability define me, I set small, achievable goals throughout my rehabilitation. While these accomplishments may seem minor to some, for someone like me, living with a disability, they were monumental.
Each success strengthened my determination to embrace life with my new prosthetic leg. Accepting this new reality was not easy, and I struggled to share my story.
15 January 2025
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 15: Life on land
Like many young Africans, I saw potential where others saw waste.
The olive by-products often discarded became my inspiration. I embarked on a mission to transform this "waste" into valuable products that sustain both the environment and the people around me. This initiative called OleaRevive isn’t just about sustainability; it’s a story of empowerment.
Through our work, we’ve created opportunities for rural farmers, women, and youth, helping them turn what was once seen as worthless into something meaningful, economically and socially.
13 December 2024
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
East and Southern Africa
Exposure story
SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
Being African means enabling our communities to grow and thrive.
The spirit of Ubuntu—uplifting our communities.
Growing up, I noticed that young Africans are often encouraged to pursue set career paths like law, medicine, or engineering. But in a changing world, the question should shift from “What do you want to be?” to “What problems do you want to solve?”
02 December 2024
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 2: Zero hunger, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
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.
25 November 2024
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 1: No poverty, SDG 2: Zero hunger, SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities, SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 14: Life below water, SDG 15: Life on land, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
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.
22 November 2024
East and Southern Africa
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