“My UN Volunteer assignment gives me a platform to promote inclusion," Karima says. “In spaces where women’s perspectives are often overlooked, I have tried to make sure they are part of the decision-making process.” Karima grew up seeing very structured gender roles. What women can and cannot do, and the limitations placed on them. Entering the workforce and later supporting international development, she saw the same trajectory where leadership roles were quite often dominated by men.

Following the 2011 revolution in Libya, Amera got an opportunity to coordinate educational programmes for underprivileged children in Tripoli. She then took up a UN Volunteer assignment with UN Women.

"I have always been drawn to investigative research—understanding what’s happening in the world and exploring the political landscape. I feel most connected at the intersection of communication, journalism, and environmental issues. My awareness of the environmental injustices began after high school, when I volunteered with a local NGO in Uganda through Weltwärts, a programme supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)," shares Alexandra.

Daisy is from France. She discovered UNV while at university, and after graduating, she started a UN Volunteer assignment as a Health Economics Analyst for UNDP’s HIV and Health unit.