La Paz, Bolivia: I have been working as a UN Volunteer in La Paz, Bolivia, since 2009. I work in the Water and Environmental Sanitation section of UNICEF as a UNV Water and Sanitation Officer. Volunteerism and water and sanitation don’t seem to have a lot in common at first sight. However, those who are familiar with water and sanitation projects know that community participation and development – and therefore a certain degree of volunteerism – are key to sustainability.

Lima, Peru: I first became interested in HIV issues a number of years ago when I learned that close friends had acquired the virus. At that time, I was in Peru working on rights, citizen participation and health issues. Soon after, I left for the Netherlands to study. My Master’s dissertation, which focused on citizen participation of people living with HIV, brought all of these issues together.

How does the recruitment of UN Volunteers add value to UNICEF?UN Volunteers are a valuable and dynamic resource for UN partners, including UNICEF, driving forward development, peace, and humanitarian efforts. With a pool of over 350,000 talented and qualified individuals, UNV provides a swift and diverse talent solution to support the delivery of UNICEF's programmes and advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.