In October 2011, Barbara Bianchini, an Italian national, left Turin, Italy to travel to Kabul and work with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on a UN Volunteer assignment as Staff Counselor-Psychologist with the UNAMA staff counseling unit in Kabul. Armed with a Master of Science in Clinical and Community Psychology and more than six years of work experience mainly in Italy as a trauma specialist, youth advisor, addiction specialist, researcher and trainer, Barbara accepted the challenge of working and living in a non-family duty station.

From 21-23 September 2013, UN Volunteers and other United Nations (UN) personnel with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) are joining with the Afghanistan Astronomy Association for a three-day “star party” to mark the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2013.