14 November 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - On early morning of 24 February 2022, Viktoria Podvoiska saw the very first bombs falling on Kyiv. She immediately gathered all her family and said, “War has started. We must leave”.

8 November 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - Aiyarat Kosakul is First Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. He works in the Peace Security and Disarmament Division on issues related to weapons of mass destruction and chemical, biological and conventional weapons. He was nominated by his government to join the UNITAR 2024 programme on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in Hiroshima, Japan. The programme provided him a fundamental understanding of nuclear disarmament, allowing him to approach his work with a broader perspective.

8 November 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - When asked about her personal goal for women in Iraq, Alia Abbas’s answer is prompt and simple: “Make them happy!” Having worked in the public health sector for 31 years, Alia has dedicated her entire career to achieving just that. The UNITAR Gender Equality and Women Empowerment programme taught Alia how to manage her team effectively, which in turn boosted the skills level of her staff.

3 November 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - Hailing from Mexico, Franco Escobar, a research fellow at the Hiroshima Peace Institute and PhD student, is on a mission to document youth involvement in nuclear disarmament.

28 August 2024, HIroshima, Japan - Luay Hussein Moh’d is a Jordanian entrepreneur who wants to create positive change. With over 23 years of experience in the IT field – from programming and project management to quality management – Luay understands how leveraging technology can solve real-life issues. He took part in the UNITAR Great Ideas Space 2022: Entrepreneurship for Public Health and COVID-19 Recovery programme to develop his project: an app to connect patients to pharmacies to improve access to medicines.

28 August 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - When the de facto government in Afghanistan placed new restrictions on women’s freedoms, Ayesha’s university education was cut short. But she crafted success from crisis. She started a jewellery handicraft business using Afghan stones and now exports bracelets, necklaces and other jewellery pieces through online platforms. In 2023, Ayesha joined a UNITAR entrepreneurship training programme, where she learned how to develop a business plan and built her confidence to continue growing her venture.

23 August 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - Tonga is no stranger to tsunamis, cyclones and the devastation they cause. Lavinia Taumoepeau-Latu, a Tongan American, feels a strong calling to ensure her homeland is better prepared for such events through disaster management training and education.

23 August 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - Hanna Yohanis is a South Sudanese law student who wants to help build a generation of South Sudanese who can reach their full potential. In 2023, Hanna came across a post about the UNITAR Great Ideas Space for South Sudan 2023: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Training for Food Security programme. Drawn to its focus on food security and youth employment in South Sudan, Hanna applied to the programme. The programme has helped her develop an NGO to support young people in furthering their education and contribute to the development of South Sudan.

28 August 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - Nawid is an Afghan entrepreneur who founded and runs three businesses in Afghanistan in the agribusiness, green electronics and fashion, driven by a desire to do something for his people. Adapting to challenging circumstances and innovating within his means, Nawid demonstrates resilience and ingenuity in the face of adversity. In his newest venture, he is applying the knowledge and skills he learned from a 2023 UNITAR entrepreneurship training to support Afghan women.

22 August 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – Ngan Ha Mai is an official in Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose work portfolio focuses on nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful development of nuclear technology. She is one of the 18 participants of the 2024 UNITAR Hiroshima Training Programme on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.