Daria still remembers the moment it all came together. “When I saw the UN Volunteer vacancy in 2022, it felt like everything aligned—the personal connection, the long‑held dream of working with the United Nations.” She applied, got the offer, said her goodbyes—and soon after, was on a flight to Minsk. Originally from the Russian Federation, Daria joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Belarus as a UN Volunteer.

Reading political tensions before they escalateNeema Atosha grew up in South Kivu, eastern DRC, a region marked by armed conflict and displacement. She says what she saw early on shaped her journey ahead. In 2022, she joined MONUSCO’s Political Affairs Division, where she is a Political Affairs Assistant. At first, she was based in Bukavu during the lead-up to the 2023 general elections.

“When volunteering is measured well, it becomes visible in plans, policies and government priorities,” said Rafael Diez Medina, Chief Statistician and Director of the Department of Statistics at the International Labour Organization, at the webinar moderated by Yanchun Zhang, Chief Statistician at the Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme.Why develop GIVE now?

Held during International Volunteer Year 2026, the Roundtable focused on how volunteer action can strengthen solidarity and practical cooperation in the region and globally.The Republic of Korea has maintained a strong partnership with UNV under the Full Funding programme since 1986. Roundtable discussions focused on Korean youth and on retaining Korean talent through volunteer assignments.

Мероприятие проводится в контексте Международного года добровольцев (МГД) во имя устойчивого развития 2026 и нацелено на укрепление солидарности и практического сотрудничества в сфере волонтёрства как в азиатском регионе, так и на глобальном уровне.