I am 34 years old and a teacher. I firmly believe that to solve Africa's challenges and enable young people to realize their dreams, we need to rethink our education system fundamentally.  Inclusion is essential; we should ensure that every child, regardless of origin, gender, or socio-economic status, has access to quality education.  We need to focus on keeping girls in school. Too often, girls drop out of school because of barriers such as early marriage, family responsibilities, and restrictive social norms. 

Sexual and reproductive health is not only vital for the social well-being of a girl child but also for her physical and mental health. Most people from rural areas lack information on how to take proper care of themselves. For example, during my first menstruation, I was so naive that I fumbled through the basic steps of maintaining good hygiene. This was because I had no prior knowledge of what it was about. Not just menstruation—terms like safe sex, HIV prevention, mental health, and sexually transmitted infections were also very foreign to us. 

Cho's fascination with Mongolia's development trajectory began during a previous project with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Witnessing the nation's hurdles firsthand, she felt compelled to contribute on a broader scale. The UN Volunteer opportunity seemed like the perfect platform to explore the UN system's role in fostering sustainable development, especially on human mobility issues.

A friendship match bringing together young refugees into the fold of opportunities—was one of the highlights of Shuhei's assignment. Uganda hosts the largest number of refugees in sub-Saharan Africa, with 80 percent of the refugees across 13 districts.

“Online Volunteering gave me a sense of connection and hope during challenging times and an opportunity to support important causes like climate action,” shared Anastasia Andreeva. Like many young people volunteering for climate action, Anastasia wanted to do the same. She applied to the call for Online Volunteers to support Y4C. 

The UNICEF UNV Youth on the Move Programme builds on the success of the Youth on the Move Fellowship Pilot Programme, which was implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Migration Youth and Children Platform.

Borko Unković, UN Community Volunteer in Youth Engagement was based in the Municipality of Gacko in southeast Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Empowering young people with digital skills can transform their future and lead to gender equality,” says Helwise Boya, UN Volunteer Innovation and Technology Officer with UNFPA in Benin. She is passionate about making a positive change through volunteering. Helwise supports the #Tech4Girls project, which has imparted digital and entrepreneurial skills to over 200 girls, opening new career paths and boosting their confidence.

Digital technology is more than just a tool; it’s a lifeline, a bridge to a future with no boundaries, only limitless possibilities.