When I first arrived in Poland, I felt alone, as if I had stepped into a world where I didn’t belong. The language barrier made everything more difficult—making friends, understanding lessons, and even simple conversations. I was afraid to speak, afraid people would laugh at my mistakes. But when I finally worked up the courage, I was met with kindness. People didn’t mock me; they encouraged me. This gave me the motivation to keep learning, to keep trying, and to believe that I could find my place in this new world. 

One of the prime examples of working together for a common good is a volunteer initiative made possible by the World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Peru.

In the region, more than 4.8 million Venezuelans have left the country towards other territories like Peru, where 57 percent live in overcrowded spaces (World Bank, 2020).

Migrants and refugees – from countries such as Cuba, Pakistan, Venezuela, Senegal, Nepal, Angola, and Haiti – travel up the South American continent, cross the Darien Gap, stop briefly in Panama, and continue in transit to North America.