SDG 1: No poverty, SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
I recently travelled to Mbire with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zimbabwe communications team. As a UN Volunteer, my job was to help tell the stories of women and families we met. We were documenting the impact of a One-stop Centre provided by UNDP in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Gender Commission. The initiative started in response to alarming findings from a national inquiry on child marriages and abuse of young girls, including those with disabilities.
14 August 2025
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
One hot afternoon in Harare, in the course of my work, I sat down with Debbie Chinochema, a young community member and beneficiary of UNICEF programmes in Zimbabwe. She looked me in the eye, smiled shyly, and shared her story with me. Debbie lives with HIV. But more than that, she’s a fighter. A volunteer. A voice.
12 August 2025
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 15: Life on land, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
11 August 2025
Europe and Central Asia
Exposure story
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 5: Gender equality, 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 17: Partnerships for the goals
08 August 2025
Asia and the Pacific
Exposure story
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
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.
08 August 2025
West and Central Africa
Success stories
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 15: Life on land, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
05 August 2025
Asia and the Pacific
Exposure story
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
In Niger, Kadiatou Moumouni is more than a UN Volunteer; she’s part of what defines the new normal in the UN system—inclusion. At the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO), she connects government, UN agencies, and civil society to champion gender equality, human rights, and disability inclusion. One of her standout contributions? A simple attendance sheet—redesigned to track the participation of persons with disabilities.
04 August 2025
West and Central 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
18 July 2025
Latin America and the Caribbean
Exposure story
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
I come from Inhambane City, a small town in southern Mozambique. I am currently based in Nampula Province, where I have been serving as a UN Volunteer with UNFPA since February 2023. Child marriage impacts far too many girls, far too early in life. I help local partners by offering support and helping organize activities like mentoring, getting children back into school, and improving access to health services, especially those related to sexual and reproductive health.
16 July 2025
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
Technology is accelerating this shift. From digital literacy and coding to the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), young people are gaining the tools to drive change. Over 70 percent of secondary students now use AI in their academic work, with many relying on tools like ChatGPT to learn, create, and lead. As AI continues to evolve, volunteers are using it to analyze data faster and boost the impact of their social initiatives.
15 July 2025
Global
Success stories