For Francesca, the winding road showed much of what she had learned about service. You do not always know the way. You cannot assume you have all the answers. Sometimes, the only way forward is to listen to the people who know the area.Francesca came to Lesotho from Italy as a UN Volunteer Social Policy Officer with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). She had worked in a country office before, but she wanted to move closer to the work in the field.

How do young people break the silence?Changing deeply rooted social norms often begins with conversations many people avoid.

Some of the most demanding parts of her role are not immediately visible. Translating technical investment programmes into clear, accessible language requires more than accuracy—it requires judgment.“It’s not always easy to break those down and explain them in a simple way,” Alissa explains.Staying closely connected to technical teams has become essential, allowing her to refine messages and avoid misinterpretation. It is a continuous process of alignment—one that ensures communication reflects reality without oversimplifying it.