Shared Lives, Shared Future

Jennifer
Peer Mentor
Mexico

"Thanks to a UN project, I’m now that annoying friend who hands out condoms at parties."

Natalia
Mother
Ukraine

"For women giving birth, receiving this support is deeply touching. Even in times like these, going through so much, help is still reaching us."

Natalia just received a UN Population Fund dignity kit. The kits, distributed via partners and local authorities, were tailored to meet the needs of women and girls in challenging winter and conflict contexts, including through fleece blankets, thermal underwear, menstrual pads, flashlights, and hygiene products. Photo: Divergent agency/UNFPA Ukraine

Galina and family
Roma Community Members
Moldova

"I want my children to study, not struggle like me. Our community mediator helped us with everything, enrolling our children at school, getting vaccines."

UN Human Rights enables vulnerable Roma families in Moldova to exercise their rights and integrate into society through a network of trained Roma community mediators. School dropout rates are down, vaccination is up, more pregnant women are registered with a doctor, and adults attend training opening doors to legal employment. Photo: OHCHR/Vincent Tremeau

Sonbul
Radio Journalist
Afghanistan

"With UN support, I led artificial intelligence training sessions, empowering and inspiring young women in tech — driving real change and championing female empowerment."

Elisabeta
Student
Albania

"The UN is helping us build a society where the new generation has security and trust in the institutions, organizations and community."

John
Automibile Mechanic
Kenya

"Thanks to the UN, we were able to learn practical recycling skills that can help build a more sustainable future for Kenya."

Katy
Water Conservationist
United Kingdom

"My underwater experiences become stories inspiring children to protect our water and our future."

Ma
Student
China

"Science used to feel distant. I had little exposure to high tech before. I joined the UN’s science camp last summer, which helped me to pursue my passion."

From 2021 to 2025, UNICEF and partners implemented a project in central and western China to encourage rural adolescents to pursue their interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Photo: Jia Yanan/UNICEF

Alejandro
Aerospace Development Director
Paraguay

"Thanks to the UN, we are building bridges of cooperation that allow countries like Paraguay to harness space-based technologies for sustainable development and disaster resilience."

The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs' UN-SPIDER programme provides training helping countries become authorized users of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, granting them access to critical satellite data during emergencies. This not only strengthens a country’s disaster resilience, but also enhances its ability to use space-based data for long-term planning, supporting sustainable development, environmental management, and informed policymaking. Photo: Thanya Idoyaga/GEOLab - AEP

Fatima
Data Science Student
Pakistan

"As an ITU Gender Champion, I’m proud to be part of the UN’s global mission turning the dream of gender equality in tech into a lived reality, starting from Pakistan."

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) promotes gender equality in digital transformation by empowering women and girls to access digital skills, leadership opportunities, and innovation. Through initiatives like ITU160’s Gender Champions, it fosters inclusion, drives policy change, and supports countries in bridging the digital gender gap to create a more inclusive digital world. Photo: Abeer Nisar

Roly
Environmental Defender
Peru

"What we’re learning in these workshops allows us to improve our day-to-day work. We can now effectively identify tree species used for wood, avoiding shortcomings in our investigations."

Across Peru’s Amazon, where illegal logging and mining pose serious threats to biodiversity and communities, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime is providing specialized technical assistance, helping officials apply forensic techniques, identify types of trees used for wood, and detect and investigate illegal exploitation. These efforts build vital skills and policing capabilities, creating a network of trained officials across Peruvian hotspots. Photo: UNODC

Malivan
Health Worker
Thailand

"With WHO's support, we have access to antidotes and training, so we can save lives when people come to hospital with poisoning or snakebites."*

Malivan rushes to get an antidote to a hospital. As part of Thailand’s national antidote programme, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ramathibodi Poison Center works with WHO to improve access to antidotes, train health workers, and track poisoning trends across the region. Photo: WHO/Amanda Mustard

Pablo
Dairy Farmer
Uruguay

"I grew up not knowing much about biogas or the circular economy. Thanks to the UN, I achieved my dream and set an example for others."

The UN Industrial Development Organization supports the transition to circular economy models. In Uruguay, through the Biovalor project, it helped Pablo install a biodigester to convert farm waste into renewable energy and fertilizer. This innovation made his farm more sustainable and efficient, setting a national example for climate-smart agriculture in the livestock sector. Photo: UNIDO

Natalia
Professor
Russian Federation

"With UN support and through the Sustainable Development Goals, I was able to create a methodology for training university staff in the field of sustainable development."

Moscow’s UN Information Centre conducts outreach and advocacy on sustainable development, allowing educators to transfer knowledge through their work. UN entities in Russia also develop partnerships with universities, focusing on different aspects of sustainable development. Photo: Andrey Cheshev

Hiếu
Greenhouse Vegetable Farmer
Viet Nam

"We want to create a sustainable and profitable agricultural sector. They taught us everything, from using safe pesticides to managing the greenhouse environment."

Funded by the Korean Government and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the 'Smart Farming for the Future Generation' project supports farmers and cooperatives in smart farming techniques, particularly through optimized greenhouses combining advanced technology with affordability and suitability – empowering farmers to produce high-quality products off-season and access more stable markets through collective action. Photo: FAO/Quach Trung Dung

Duaa
Engineer
Yemen

"I wouldn’t have succeeded without the training I received from the UN."

The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), with World Bank funding, provided technical and managerial training to 42 rural microenterprises while rehabilitating over 502 km of inner-city roads in Yemen — improving urban mobility for approximately 2.8 million people. Photo: UNOPS

Obède
Student
Congo

"The teacher explained to me that a birth certificate allows me to go to school and be considered a citizen."

Obède is one of more than 50% of children in traditionally marginalized forest communities without a birth certificate, compared to 19% nationally. Thanks to a project by the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and UNICEF in support of the government, Obède received a birth certificate, allowing him to enroll in school. Photo: UNICEF

Yvonne
Cook and Entrepreneur
Indonesia

"Before, I was selling simple snacks on the beach. Now I cook full meals and deliver them to homestays."

Yvonne lives in Budo, one of four villages supported by an International Labour Organization programme helping communities diversify into sustainable tourism and providing skills to local entrepreneurs, mostly women. The village has increased its income from tourism fivefold, and now appears on the tourist trail. Photo: Adwit Pramono/UNIC Jakarta

Ghil'ad
Professor of Linguistics
Israel

"The UN’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages played a huge role towards language reclamation, revitalization and reinvigoration."

Ghil’ad has dedicated his life to reclaiming dormant indigenous languages. The UN’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-32) supports efforts to revive and value indigenous languages as not only means of communication, but also vehicles for traditional knowledge, cultures, and ways of life. Photo: Personal archive

^*Reference to Kosovo is in the context of UN SC Resolution 1244 (1999)

Clodagh
Student
Ireland

"Through the UN, I’ve learned that fashion can be a powerful force for good."

Thanks to UNICEF, students are becoming more conscious of their fashion choices: ethical production, child labour, and sustainability. Clodagh is involved in the Junk Kouture initiative, bringing this awareness to life, and empowering young people to turn waste into wearable statements for climate and social justice. Photo: Brian McEvoy

Mekdes
Heavy Vehicle Driving Instructor
Ethiopia

"After the training, I managed to pursue the career I love, with a better salary and working conditions. The UN made my dream come true!"

The UN Industrial Development Organization established the Misale Driver Training Academy through a public-private partnership with Ethiopia’s Government, Sweden’s development agency, and Volvo. The academy provides training for commercial vehicle drivers, empowering young Ethiopians, especially women like Mekdes, to gain technical skills and enter high-demand transport jobs — contributing to safer roads, industrial workforce development, and gender equality. Photo: UNIDO

Justine
Financial Services Lawyer
New Zealand

"Our country code is 64. I didn't know these codes are coordinated by the UN, so each call knows where to go."

International telephone codes are coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN's agency for digital technologies. From artificial intelligence to quantum, from satellites and submarine cables to advanced mobile and wireless broadband networks, the ITU works to connect the world and beyond. Photo: UN-DGC

Luca
Student
Italy

"Walking around Palermo, I’m always amazed by the beauty of our historic sites. It’s reassuring to know the UN supports governments to keep them safe and accessible for everyone."

UNESCO helps protect cultural heritage by setting global standards, supporting conservation, and encouraging international cooperation. Its recognition brings attention to the historical and cultural value of these sites, including 61 in Italy, helping ensure they are preserved, respected, and accessible. Photo: Andrea Frisina

Yuriko
App Developer
Japan

"Thanks to this app, wheelchair users like me can share experiences to help others go around the city more smoothly. The UN helps address our rights as human rights, beyond welfare."

Through the UN Information Centre in Tokyo, Yuriko, a wheelchair user, engaged with UN experts and was inspired by the UN's rights-based approach to disability. This contributed to her enthusiasm to work on the user-generated accessibility map application 'WheeLog!', showing wheelchair users how to easily move around in Tokyo and beyond. Photo: Aoi Sugiyama

Samara
Student
Angola

"I’ve learned so much through this project — and I’m also earning money that helps me support myself."

Samara is part of a youth-led initiative created by the UN Population Fund, which trains girls and young women in sexual and reproductive health and rights, menstrual health, and economic self-reliance. She helps produce reusable menstrual kits — pads, underwear, and a bracelet representing the menstrual cycle — distributed to women in need. Samara earns enough to cover university tuition, while building skills and confidence to shape her own future. Photo: Noriko Hayashi/UNFPA

Rabiah
Port Manager
Malaysia

"With the UN’s support, we implemented a solution that saves 10 million litres of fresh water every year."

Rabiah works for the Johor Port Authority, which partnered with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to design and implement a water-saving system. Across the world, UNCTAD has built a global network of certified port managers — advancing best practices, reinforcing South-South cooperation, and driving progress toward the SDGs. Photo: Mika Jouhki

Zahoor
Farmer
Afghanistan

"With UN support, I transitioned from opium to cabbage farming. I received training in modern agriculture and was provided with pesticides to protect my crops."

With support from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Zahoor and thousands of other Afghan farmers transitioned from opium to legal farming, turning land into a source of hope and sustainable income while also fighting the drugs trade.Photo: Abel Kavanag/UNODC

Alketa
Fish Factory Worker
Albania

"Men often prefer their wives not to work outside the home, but I insisted. Now, six months on, I can even socialize with friends and colleagues."

UN Women supported local officials in Albania to integrate gender equality goals into municipal plans. In Alketa's village, Prrenjas, this led food processing companies to offer transport to women from remote villages, opening their access to paid work. The initiative is part of the Sweden-funded Transformative Financing for Gender Equality programme, helping governments embed gender equality in public budgets and policies. Photo: UN Women Albania

Evaldo and Laurinha
Family
Brazil

"Here we were very welcomed by the UN."

Following Brazil's 2024 historic floods, the UN's International Organization for Migration partnered with the Rio Grande do Sul Government to assist displaced families with humanitarian aid and protection. Photo: IOM/Joana Berwanger

Abd Younis
Farmer
Iraq

"Thanks to the UN, I received support to improve my farming tools and market my crops, helping me continue providing for my family."

Supported by the UN's International Trade Centre and thanks to European Union funding, Abd Younis leads a group of over 40 farmers in Nimrud, Iraq. They benefit from a programme improving their access to markets, and explore solar energy solutions to address water scarcity and high fuel costs. Photo: Moyasser Nasseer/ITC

Awah
Water Committee Member
Cameroon

"The water management committee looks after our resources, checking that public and private taps are in good condition. I’m proud to do this work. I have drinking water in front of my home now."

With Korean Government funding, the UN Office for Project Services worked with Cameroon's Government and local communities to bring drinking water to more than 120 villages across three different regions of the country. Photo: UNOPS/Elise Laker

Signe
Data Protection Lawyer
Denmark

"The UN’s advocacy work showed me how many rights we have as individuals, but also how few truly enjoy those fundamental rights. We must continue to fight for our rights. It is empowering to be part of the pushback against those trying to diminish sexual and reproductive rights!"

UNFPA, the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency, promotes gender equality and empowers women, girls and youth globally to take control of their bodies and futures. Signe is one of countless young women motivated by such advocacy to ensure rights and choices for all. Photo: UN City Copenhagen/Thomas Frode

Ángel
Community Leader
Colombia

"The UN has brought us together. We look forward to welcoming all signatories of the Peace Agreement as brothers and sisters."

Ángel is a local government official. The UN Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC) helped residents and local government to work with all peace signatories, including those formerly branded 'rebels', and understand and support their reintegration — ready to welcome them back to civilian life. UNVMC was established in 2016 to verify the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement and assist Colombia in ending the conflict and building peace. Photo: Santiago Puentes Viana/UNVMC

Asna
Businesswoman
Comoros

"The UN listened to our business needs and coached us to improve our operations. Their support helped us achieve our goals and make our dreams a reality."

The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), aiming to foster inclusive and sustainable industrial development, supports women-led agribusinesses in small island developing states. In Comoros, UNIDO and partners enhance their production processes, business planning, and access to markets. Asna strengthened her enterprise, improved product quality, and created economic opportunities for her community. Photo: UNIDO

Khanyakwezwe
Civil Servant
Eswatini

"In HIV we need a player who is very neutral and seen to be neutral, and that is UNAIDS."

In January 2025, UNAIDS lost 50% of its funding. There has been great uncertainty in the country, and UNAIDS has had to curtail its activities globally. Yet, for Eswatini and many other countries, UNAIDS remains crucial to fight HIV/AIDS. Photo: UNAIDS

Derniella
Smallholder Farmer
Haiti

"To water our plots, we had to walk an hour to the river. With this new system, we can better manage market gardens and produce vegetables for sale and for our families."

Water management is a serious concern in Haiti. With less rain than in the past, farmers need other ways to irrigate. A UN Food and Agriculture Organization project funded by Québec has provided a solution through a simple and low-cost drip irrigation system using plastic barrels, each holding 208 litres. Farmers can easily construct and maintain them with limited resources. Photo: FAO

Fatemeh
Schoolteacher
Iran

"These stress management techniques changed something in me. Now, every morning I start my day with things I’ve learned here. It’s become part of how I take care of myself, and can be a better mother."

Developed by UN entities, the Strong Families programme equips caregivers and children in challenging environments with tools to manage stress, improve communication, and build resilience. In Tehran, Fatemeh’s school partnered with the UN to deliver trainings, supporting parenting and strengthening family bonds. Photo: UNIC Tehran

Manjola
Raspberry Farmer
Albania

"The UN is opening a window from my small farm to a world of farming knowledge and colleagues."

The Food and Agriculture Organization, through the Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation project, is developing the Farmers’ Portal, an online platform connecting Albanian farmers with expert advice, market information, and peers. This helps rural producers like Manjola improve productivity, resilience, and livelihoods. Photo: FAO Albania

Trevor
Pilot
Australia

"Just flew back from Hawaii. International civil aviation standards are coordinated by the UN."

The International Civil Aviation Organization sets global standards and recommended practices for aviation safety, security, efficiency, and environmental protection. It develops uniform rules, coordinates international cooperation, audits Member States, and ensures safe, reliable, and sustainable air transport worldwide. Photo: Chandler Grant

Dilma
Disaster Survivor
Brazil

"Through the UN, I turned my pain into action, helping to repair what my hands cannot touch, but my heart will always carry."

Starting in 2018, five neighbourhoods in the city of Maceió have been hit by Brazil’s largest ongoing urban environmental disaster, displacing around 60,000 people. The UN Office for Project Services, in partnership with the Federal Public Ministry in Alagoas, is leading a US$ 30 million, four-year recovery programme that supports local communities through grants and projects. Photo: UNOPS/Evelyn Barreto

Eleni
Mother and Grandmother
Greece

"When World War II ended, I remember UN staff distributing clothes in my village Koukouli.  Even second-hand clothes were a big deal. Greece was war-torn, and the UN’s humanitarian aid was a lifeline in my childhood."

The UN Relief and Rehabilitation Administration planned, coordinated, administered and delivered relief for World War II victims, including food, clothing, shelter and medication. In Greece alone, it distributed 1.7 million tons of food, 12,500 tons of clothing, and 1,250 tons of medical supplies. Photo: Thrasyvoulos Douvlis

Bakhtiyar
Beekeeper
Uzbekistan

"With just 10 beehives and support from the UN, I built a business and created a steady income for my family."

After losing his job at a honey factory, Bakhtiyar started his own business with just ten beehives. With support from the UN and Japan's Government to beekeepers across the country, he expanded to 200 hives, built a hive workshop, and began packaging honey professionally. He now trains over 70 people, many of them women. Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan/Arslan Kannazarov

Víctor Hugo
Mechanical and Industrial Engineer
Guatemala

"With UN support, I co-led about 100 people to build Guatemala’s first satellite, QUETZAL-1. This introduced aerospace engineering to our country and became a symbol of hope, inspiring a new generation to reach for the stars."

The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs works to ensure that all countries can benefit from space. The KiboCUBE programme, part of the Access to Space for All initiative in cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, enables developing countries to deploy CubeSats from the International Space Station’s Kibo module. Guatemala built QUETZAL-1, marking a major milestone in local space engineering. Photo: Universidad del Valle de Guatemala/Sandy Hernández

Melinda
Healthcare Professional
United States of America

"With UN support, I co-led about 100 people to build Guatemala’s first satellite, QUETZAL-1. This introduced aerospace engineering to our country and became a symbol of hope, inspiring a new generation to reach for the stars."

The UN Environment Programme tackles the climate crisis by turning science into action. From providing evidence that shapes stronger climate policies, to supporting low-carbon transitions and financing adaptation, it helps countries address the very risks — like droughts and wildfires — that threaten lives, air quality and communities worldwide. Photo: José Herrarte

Mariam (*Real name withheld)
Former Student
Occupied Palestinian Territory

"We miss the UN schools we used to go to. I want life to go back to how it was before."

Before the current conflict in Gaza, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) provided education to nearly 300,000 children, and healthcare to countless families. Today, UNRWA is doing what it can to maintain basic services amid the humanitarian crisis, together with other UN agencies and partners on the ground, getting life-saving aid to Gaza's children like Mariam. In the West Bank, meanwhile, UNRWA continues to run schools and clinics, in the face of immense challenges. Photo: UNFPA Palestine/Hosny Salah

Sorelly
Farmer
Colombia

"UN support is opening doors for us. With better financial stability, we can have better access to food for our families."

The project 'Peaceful Opportunities, Rural Women' was implemented by the World Food Programme with funding from the Korean Government. It helps rural women strengthen their livelihoods, improve their nutrition sources, and enhance their organizational capacities — ensuring food security for them and their communities in Colombia's Pacific region. Photo: WFP/Giulio D’Adamo

Hafsat
Entrepreneur
Nigeria

The UN procurement training was an eye-opener. Before the training, I had never participated in a bid and had no knowledge of the process."

The UN Women Procurement Training has reshaped Hafsat's journey as an entrepreneur, providing her with the confidence and skills to engage in procurement opportunities. Since completing the programme, she has participated in three bidding opportunities. Photo: UN Women Nigeria

Jerzy
Retiree
Poland

"My childhood was marred by World War II, but I thank the UN that I didn’t experience war again."

Since its founding after World War II, the UN has been dedicated to maintaining international peace and security, preventing conflicts, and promoting peace worldwide. Through diplomacy, peace operations and humanitarian efforts, the UN helps protect millions from the devastation of war, so that new generations can grow up in safer, more stable environments — free from the horrors that marked Jerzy’s and many others’ pasts. Photo: UN/Aleksandra Szorc

Susan
Returned Refugee
Poland

"When the killings started, I fled to a UN protection camp. My home was burned, and floods rendered the land uninhabitable."

Millions of people have been displaced internally or as refugees due to South Sudan’s recurrent waves of conflict. Countless lives were saved thanks to the UN’s presence. Susan then fled to Sudan, but returned to South Sudan thanks to the UN’s International Organization for Migration. Photo: ????

Oscar
Student
Sweden

"Smoking isn’t seen as cool anymore. My generation grew up with graphic warnings on cigarette packs and smoke-free spaces."

The World Health Organization negotiated the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the world's first public health treaty — signed by over 180 countries — which supports governments to reduce tobacco use and save lives, includig through laws that ban advertising, graphic warnings on cigarette packs, tobacco taxes and smoke-free public spaces. Photo: Nicklas Elmrin

Priyantha
Head Nurse
Sri Lanka

"We now provide pregnant women a safe and secure childbirth experience. Compared to our previous delivery room, more mothers are happy to deliver their babies here."

With funding from Korea's Government, the UN Office for Project Services helped remodel a building at the Korea-Sri Lanka Friendship Hospital, improving its maternal and neonatal health services. Photo: UNOPS/Magnet Studio

Muhammad Akram
Apple Farmer
Sri Lanka

"It’s never too late to follow your passion and dreams. The UN gave me the tools to make a difference in my community, and now my grandson will grow up with this knowledge."

The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), mandated to foster inclusive and sustainable industrial development, supports agribusiness innovation through the PAFAID project in Pakistan. UNIDO trained farmers in agricultural practices and quality standards, helping them improve yields, recover from climate shocks, and boost income. Photo: UNIDO

Teslim
Community leader
Mauritania

"We started planting trees around the houses. Since the start of the programme, the dunes have been stabilized. Many trees have grown."

As part of the Great Green Wall initiative, the Food and Agriculture Organization, with European Union funding, puts communities at the centre of restoration and reforestation. It helps them fight land degradation and desertification through expertise and training in selecting tree and grass species to grow, where to plant, and how to harvest. Photo: FAO/Giulio Napolitano

Agron
Multiethnic Village Resident
Kosovo^*

"The UN has brought the children together. The situation is far better since the playground was built."

Agron lives in Vidaje/Vidanje, a multiethnic village in Kosovo. Through a Community Trust Building small-scale project, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo supported the construction of a sports field in 2018 for children from the two communities to bond over sports. Photo: UNMIK/Amanda Fisher

^*Reference to Kosovo is in the context of UN SC Resolution 1244 (1999)

Sreya
Customs and Excise Officer
Cambodia

"The UN Women Professional Development Programme has been a defining moment in my career, giving me the skills and confidence to excel as a female customs officer."

Sreya works in the Sihanoukville Control Unit, playing a critical role in interdicting illicit trade through Cambodia’s busiest seaport. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime, with INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization, leads the Passenger and Cargo Control Programme, supporting the port’s customs and excise, and women in particular, through capacity-building. Photo: UNODC

Mulki
Student
Kenya

"I want to be a data analyst. This training has given me so many new skills, and now I can work and make money comfortably from my home."

In Kenya, refugees and host communities benefit from digital training classes thanks to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, working in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council to implement digital literacy training. Photo: UNHCR/Charity Nzomo

Imad
Boat Maintenance Specialist
Lebanon

"Thanks to the UN, we are now able to increase our income by working faster and all year round, protected from the summer heat and the winter rain."

The UN Development Programme supported 1,010 fishers and their families in El Mina through the establishment of a fully equipped boat maintenance workshop and the provision of essential fishing tools, strengthening their livelihoods and daily operations. Photo: UNDP/Rana Sweidan

Belbachir
Onion Farmer
Algeria

"I hope that obtaining certification for the Oulhaça onion will allow it to be sold at its fair value."

Together with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Algeria's Catalogue of Terroir Products lists 190 emblematic specialities and supports their certification. Among them, the white onion of Oulhaça, prized for its sweetness, is readier than ever to shine in Algerian and international markets. Photo: FAO Algeria

Juana
Environmentalist and Guapinol Resident
Honduras

"The UN has always been close to the Guapinol case and supported us with advocacy, working with the institutions."

The Guapinol region in Honduras was polluted under previous legislation that favoured the rights of companies over human beings. The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) supported environmental defenders as they took their case to parliament. In 2024, the area was protected as a national park. Photo: OHCHR/Vincent Tremeau

Sekanao
Wheat Farmer
Malawi

"Since starting solar-powered irrigation in 2021, we are harvesting more than enough. We even have surplus to sell and earn income. Food scarcity is now behind us."

Without irrigation, 90% of farmers in Malawi depend on rain to produce crops. Thanks to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Sekanao is among more than 1,800 farmers to have installed solar-powered irrigation systems, boosting resilience against historic droughts and climate change. Photo: WFP/Giulio d'Adamo

Pedro
Globetrotter
Portugal

"I’m on a trip across Asia. I was surprised to learn that I can access weather forecasts on my smartphone thanks to UN coordination."

The World Meteorological Organization, a UN agency, coordinates national meteorological services. By sharing real-time data, forecasts and early warnings, it enables weather apps and services worldwide to provide accurate, up-to-date information. Photo: Personal archive

Ratna
Retiree
Nepal

"I’m on a trip across Asia. I was surprised to learn that I can access weather forecasts on my smartphone thanks to UN coordination."

Ratna, 80, shows her registration card after voting in Nepal’s Constituent Assembly elections in 2008. The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) supported national authorities with preparing and conducting the elections, a critical milestone in the country’s peace process following a decade of armed conflict. Photo: UN Photo/Nayan Tara

Najoua
Journalist
Tunisia

"Working with data is more than just analysis — it’s about telling real stories that uphold dignity and advance human rights. When used wisely, information has the power to change lives."

A data literacy programme by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Bank Group, and the Center of Arab Women for Training and Research offers training and mentorships in data journalism, promoting quality reliable and accurate journalism and supporting public access to information. Photo: UNFPA/Mariem Ouled Cheib

Chris
Intellectual Property Lawyer
United States of America

"I represent clients in the global marketplace. WIPO plays a key role ensuring that intellectual property laws around the world are consistent."

The United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) harmonizes intellectual property laws and standards across countries. Through treaties, guidelines, and dispute resolution services, it helps businesses and creators protect their rights internationally, ensuring smoother trade, innovation and access to global markets under consistent frameworks. Photo: Leigh Genser

Nour
NGO Founder
Sudan

"They pointed a gun at me, but I was determined to move to Wad Medani with the women and orphans. I could not leave them behind, especially after witnesseing what happened to women and girls."

Nour founded the Shamaa Organization – Arabic for 'candle' – to support vulnerable people in conflict-ridden Sudan. Together with UN-Habitat, she has helped more than 8,000 single mothers and orphans with shelter and health care. When fighting erupted in 2023, she evacuated her charges to safety. Photo: UNOCHA/Matteo Minasi

Nowai
Farmer
Liberia

"Thanks to the UN, we have peace, I can grow my crops and take care of my family."

The United Nations is supporting post-conflict Liberia. For 15 years after a UN-brokered ceasefire, the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) helped usher in a new era of peace. Now, UN agencies support Nowai and other farmers with growing crops (FAO, IFAD, UN Women, WFP). Photo: UN Liberia

Abdulrahman
Former Student
Occupied Palestinian Territory

"I lost my leg because of the war. Only the UN has been helping me. We are innocent children who need food, treatment, and support to continue our lives."

Abdulrahman, 10, lost his leg due to conflict. Like thousands of other children, he found safety and support through the UN Relief and Works Agency, which provides shelter, food, medical care, and psychosocial support to children caught in the violence, offering a lifeline when they need it most. Photo: UNOCHA/UNRWA Gaza

Adimas
Farmer and Entrepreneur
Indonesia

"Many young people associate farming with dirtiness and difficulty, but the greenhouse we've developed shows you can live close to nature and use cutting edge technology."

Adimas won a grant creating opportunities for young people in agriculture at a time when many are seeking jobs in urban areas. The UN Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment Support Services Programme is co-financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Indonesia’s Agriculture Ministry. Photo: UNIC Jakarta/Hendra Nurdiansyah

Neli
Student
Armenia

"I dream of becoming a diplomat to help establish peace in the world. Thanks to UNFPA, I lead community projects empowering young girls. Our dreams are worth pursuing."

As a Girl Child Ambassador for a project supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Neli learned about leadership, advocacy, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Now she educates other Armenian girls — passing on skills and confidence to shape their own futures. Photo: UNFPA/Artyom Dalyan

Nadeen
Attempted FGM Survivoreli
Yemen

"My big sister would have died. I don’t understand female genital mutilation, but I’ve heard it’s terrible. I’m lucky to be spared."

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 'Safe Spaces' have helped Nadeen’s and thousands of other families in Yemen take a stand against female genital mutilation (FGM). The programme empowers individuals to reject this harmful tradition, and provides legal and psychosocial support. Photo: UNFPA/Shamikh Ghanem

Bilkis
Farmer
Bangladesh

"My parents were day labourers. Now I work for myself. I raise sheep, poultry and farm pumpkins."

Bilkis and her three children live in northeastern Bangladesh, a region prone to climate shocks and drought. Thanks to a World Food Programme (WFP) project, she is warding off extreme poverty and malnutrition, improving the family home and their overall food security. Photo: WFP/Samantha Reinders

Mirlinda
NGO Worker
Kosovo^*

"The UN supported us to increase survivors’ capacities. We orient them to do business to generate income for themselves and their families."

The NGO Medica Gjakova is a long-standing partner of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), implementing projects supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Photo: UNMIK/Besa Domi

^*Reference to Kosovo is in the context of UN SC Resolution 1244 (1999)

Kidus
Businessman
Ethiopia

"The UN inspired my company and others to transform plastic waste into decarbonized buildings. This has attracted partners — attracting scaled impact across Africa."

The UN leads global efforts to promote a circular economy, where waste is eliminated and materials reused. With research and global advocacy, the UN helps entrepreneurs like Kidus create a market environment where sustainable business models can attract investment while meeting environmental and social challenges. Photo: Team Kubik

Ruizhen
Farmer
China

"Thanks to support by the UN and a local NGO, our village has established a community seed bank managed by women, to protect and utilize local crop varieties."

With UN and NGO support, Ruizhen's village has become a model for sustainable farming and biodiversity conservation. Led by women, the seed bank project has since 2018 grown into the Naxi Mountain network, establishing four community seed banks and preserving 278 traditional crop varieties. Photo: UNEP-IEMP/Qiubi

Hinda and Mohamed
Local Residents
Somalia

"Before we enrolled, we survived with what God provided for us. But once we started receiving assistance, life has become a lot better."

In Somalia, Hinda and Mohamed are among 1.2 million supported by the World Food Programme (WFP) every month with food generously donated by more than ten governments. Yet funding limitations mean even this figure accounts for just 20% of Somalians experiencing critical levels of hunger. Photo: WFP/Arete/Utaama Mahamud

Afaf
Attempted Child Marriage Survivor
Yemen

"At age 15 I was pressured to marry, but the UN helped me get out of it."

At 15, Afaf faced an impossible choice to help her family: find work, or marry a 40-year old man. At a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-backed 'Safe Space', she received counselling and training. The marriage was cancelled, leaving Afaf able to support herself and family. Photo: UNFPA/Abdulrahman Al‑Muallimi

Olena
Boiler Plant Dispatcher
Ukraine

"The support we received from the UN powers not only our boiler plant, but also our hearts. For Ukrainians, it means everything to know we are not alone."

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is helping Ukraine restore access to heating, water and electricity in the face of damage to critical infrastructure, by diversifying and strengthening the country’s energy system. In Odesa, UNDP has provided essential equipment to help secure heat for 250,000 residents. Photo: UNDP Ukraine/Amid Askerov

Roberta
Advocate Against Sexual Violence
Nigeria

"The UN gave us a platform and equipped us with the tools to engage stakeholders and push for change."

Through the Spotlight Initiative, UN Women has empowered survivors of gender-based violence, especially women with disabilities, to reclaim their voices and lead change. Roberta, once silenced by abuse and self-doubt, is now a community advocate providing access to counseling, safe spaces, and rehabilitation services. Photo: UN Women Nigeria

Hares
Farmer
Lebanon

"I’m grateful to the UN and the Ministry of Agriculture for providing the vaccines needed to protect my herd."

Livestock is a vital source of food and income for farmers in Lebanon. Supported by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with funding from the World Bank, the Ministry of Agriculture administered 1.5 million vaccine doses, protecting animals from diseases and safeguarding livelihoods.Photo: FAO/Ralph Azar