The Youth Advocates programme aims to give young people, including those with disabilities, a one-year professional experience through a UN Volunteer assignment with UNICEF to protect children’s rights. 

Nadina has two degrees in social work from the University of Sarajevo. Through student exchanges, she connected with people from all walks of life, especially persons with disabilities—learning firsthand about their needs and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Those friendships still support her today. 

Meet Judith from Nigeria

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. 

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.

Human rights and protecting vulnerable people have always been my focus, especially as someone living with a disability. My experience in labour and administrative law helps me fight for fairness and inclusion.

As of mid-2024, an estimated 122.6 million people were displaced due to emergencies like armed conflicts, natural disasters, famine, and epidemics. These populations face risks such as violence, exploitation, discrimination, and limited access to basic services.

“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.

Under UNICEF’s Adolescent Participation, Skills, and Employability Section, I oversee disability inclusion efforts such as staff awareness programmes and accessibility audits on reporting. I use simple and practical techniques such as pair walk events to highlight accessibility challenges and the need for more inclusive spaces under UNICEF's Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy.

"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.