SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 15: Life on land, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Haoming connects the dots from there to his volunteer journey as a fully funded UN Volunteer. He adds, "Through this graduate work, I realized that environmental issues are deeply intertwined with public health, economic behaviour, and social development.
28 August 2025
Asia and the Pacific
Success stories
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 15: Life on land, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
Among them was Hotrika Joshi, a UN Volunteer with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), who was based in Roshi Rural Municipality in Kavrepalanchok District, where ten lives were lost and hundreds of homes and farmlands were destroyed.
18 August 2025
Asia and the Pacific
Success stories
SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
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.
17 June 2025
Europe and Central Asia
Success stories
SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
Under UNICEF’s Adolescent Participation, Skills, and Employability Section, I oversee disability inclusion efforts such as staff awareness programmes and accessibility audits on reporting. I use simple and practical techniques such as pair walk events to highlight accessibility challenges and the need for more inclusive spaces under UNICEF's Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy.
10 April 2025
Asia and the Pacific
Success stories
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 15: Life on land
Like many young Africans, I saw potential where others saw waste.
The olive by-products often discarded became my inspiration. I embarked on a mission to transform this "waste" into valuable products that sustain both the environment and the people around me. This initiative called OleaRevive isn’t just about sustainability; it’s a story of empowerment.
Through our work, we’ve created opportunities for rural farmers, women, and youth, helping them turn what was once seen as worthless into something meaningful, economically and socially.
13 December 2024
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 2: Zero hunger, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 15: Life on land
As a young African at 20, I see the hurdles we face—climate change disrupting agriculture, limited resources affecting education, and political instability creating uncertainty.
Yet, these challenges ignite innovation.
I see it in the way my peers use technology to drive social change and transform agriculture. My work with Kilimo Green Farm revealed the resilience of Congolese farmers, who, against all odds, adapt to climate change with sustainable practices.
22 November 2024
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 15: Life on land
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.
20 November 2024
East and Southern Africa
Success stories
SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
I knew that this is not the way I want myself or others to live—shares Priyanka. “I want people to be able to access whatever they need. So, being able to contribute to development, to turn my passions into purposes, I feel very fulfilled. It feels like a dream come true.”
From very early on, Priyanka had interest in International Relations—this was further motivated by being part of Model United Nations in secondary school. That curiosity soon led her to a degree in the same field and a goal of joining the United Nations.
19 November 2024
Latin America and the Caribbean
Success stories
SDG 1: No poverty, SDG 2: Zero hunger, SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 4: Quality education, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy, SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities, SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production, SDG 13: Climate change, SDG 14: Life below water, SDG 15: Life on land, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals
It is simply not possible to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without including people at all stages, at all levels, and at all times.
Volunteering makes people part of the solutions. Volunteerism lets people and communities participate in their development.
15 November 2024
Global
Article
SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Yet, despite Africa’s richness in resources—diamonds, gold, and natural beauty—life here has its share of challenges. As an orphan raised by my father, I grew up without access to essential sexual education due to cultural taboos.
Like many, I became pregnant at 17, but I was fortunate to continue my education.
Today, Rwanda is working toward empowering young people through advocacy and awareness campaigns, fostering a brighter future.
06 November 2024
East and Southern Africa
Success stories