“Peacebuilding here is about patience.” In Katsina, Dennis Bwala is a UN Volunteer with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Northwest Prevention Facility, and spends his days connecting local authorities, security forces, and communities that often don’t trust each other.My role is to facilitate dialogue, strengthen partnerships, and ensure that our interventions are inclusive and neutral, so communities feel ownership over the solutions."

Meet Judith from Nigeria

Early warning and response mechanisms to prevent the escalation of conflicts is the core of Alizée's volunteer assignment. She has contributed to the Early Warning and Early Response system in Kaduna State in North-western Nigeria, and thus helped establish local peace committees to mediate community disputes.

My volunteering journey wasn’t a traditional one. I started as a journalist, chasing stories on the streets, driven by curiosity and the power of storytelling. But I wanted more than just reporting; I wanted to be part of the change. That’s when I found United Nations Volunteers. My first role was with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Nigeria, where I worked as a Communications Officer highlighting peace and justice under Sustainable Development Goal 16.

My dream had always been to work in construction and pursue a career in electrical engineering. However, the accident forced me to reconsider my future. Refusing to let my disability define me, I set small, achievable goals throughout my rehabilitation. While these accomplishments may seem minor to some, for someone like me, living with a disability, they were monumental. Each success strengthened my determination to embrace life with my new prosthetic leg. Accepting this new reality was not easy, and I struggled to share my story.

Chinenye Anekwe is a UN Volunteer Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Specialist with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) India Office since August 2024. She is a 2018 fellow of GRÓ Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme (GRÓ GEST). 

Luis is a UN Volunteer Law Enforcement Expert with UNODC in Liberia. He supports the work of Liberian officers to fight drug trafficking and organized crime. He trained some 900 officers in skills such as investigations and intelligence analyses.

Grace Kironcho is from Kenya and serves with UNHCR in Nigeria. She is 33 years old.

This project includes an effective blend of volunteer involving strategies with community volunteers, and national and international UN Volunteers. 

Ronald Cumberbatch is an international UN Volunteer from Guyana, serving as an Energy and Environment Specialist with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Liberia. He has been supporting the Good Grow Partnership (GGP) programme for almost 3 years. Launched in 2017, the GGP programme is aimed at reducing deforestation caused by mass production of global key commodities. It also focuses on facilitating strong supply chains and creating an enabling environment in support of sustainable production.