Inka studied human diversity, exploring societies, cultures and development. Then came an unexpected detour. Curious about the rapidly changing digital world, she pursued a master's degree in cyber ethics and briefly entered the technology sector. It did not take long to realize something was missing. "The focus was often on investors and profits," Inka recalls. "I wanted to be closer to people and the issues that matter." That search led her to the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and ultimately, to Kenya.

"As a UN Volunteer Specialist in Law, Gender, and Communication with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Madagascar, I spend much of my time creating spaces where these conversations can happen. My role sits at the intersection of law, community dialogue, and communication. It requires listening as much as teaching.

“The main office for the Caribbean Multi-country Office is in Barbados; however, my duty station is on another island that was previously only supported remotely,” Mar explains.

Abandoning is not an option: In Diapaga, in the eastern Tapoa region, Agathe Ouoba is a midwife on the front lines. In May 2025, gunfire hit the town and shut down the health center. But life kept moving. “We were told to stay home,” Agathe says. “Women still went into labour. We helped one mother deliver at home using just a single-use ventouse. She and her baby made it.” 

Growing up in Ecuador, Ae Young saw Latin America’s social struggles up close—and they stayed with her. She’s driven by a commitment to support vulnerable communities and promote gender equality. This opportunity didn’t just connect her to a cause—it brought together her Korean roots and the place that shaped her worldview.

As an Emergency Response Officer focused on gender, I make sure women and girls are seen, heard, and supported when disasters strike. Whether it’s a cyclone, drought, or flood—everyone feels the impact, but women and girls often carry the heaviest load. I work to ensure their voices guide how Zimbabwe prepares for and responds to crises—so no one is left behind.

In the MENA region, climate change is intensifying existing hardships—shrinking food and water supplies and deepening instability for communities already displaced by conflict. Enter Jahidul Islam: a Bangladeshi climate and disability inclusion expert who brings both technical insight and lived experience. He is a wheelchair user who has faced structural barriers firsthand.

I recently travelled to Mbire with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zimbabwe communications team. As a UN Volunteer, my job was to help tell the stories of women and families we met. We were documenting the impact of a One-stop Centre provided by UNDP in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Gender Commission. The initiative started in response to alarming findings from a national inquiry on child marriages and abuse of young girls, including those with disabilities. 

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. 

Raised between Kathmandu and Dublin, and half Irish, half Nepali, I am shaped by two vibrant cultures on opposite ends of the world. That dual experience frames my perspective: I’ve seen the glaring inequalities that exist, but also the resilience of communities facing them.