April 2022 - The volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami that hit Tonga in early 2022 is a stark reminder of the reality of disasters, and the fact that a disaster, can hit anywhere at any time and render communities vulnerable to massive damages. Mele Moimoi, a disaster risk reduction trainer at Tonga National Council of Churches (TNCC), and an alumna of UNITAR programme in 2021, tells her story.

“Guidance from the course was essential in informing my project strategy and there is a lot of change in how I think that has really been informed by the training”.

“The knowledge I received during the seminar is very helpful here. It helps me to analyze policies and strategies correctly, define and set the goals of the strategic directions correctly, and use this experience in developing action plans and project ideas”.

The course arrived at an opportune moment for Tetiana as besides providing better comprehension of food reserves in her region and establishing what more can be done to improve the system and share experiences with partners, it also expanded her knowledge in analyzing food security issues.

Hosna is a 19-year-old Afghan alumna of UNITAR’s 2021 digital upskilling programme, and she is distressed about the gender gap in Afghanistan. Hosna was attending university in Kabul when the Afghan regime changed overnight, in August 2021. Fearing for her safety, she fled to Iraq, where she now continues her undergraduate studies. Hosna worries about her sister and friends back home.

Maureen Nduta was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. Having lived in the city all her life, she wanted a fresh experience and moved to Mombasa in the coastal region. Her plans were all set: first get a small restaurant running, then start a small farm to supply produce for the restaurant, and later on enrol for a business degree. Everything seemed to be going to plan. Then COVID-19 happened.

March 2022 – Raghad Hav started with a small idea and brought it to life with the help of the 2019 UNITAR training programme Empowering Social Entrepreneurs and Youth Leaders. Raghad founded She Codes Too, where she teaches Iraqi women to code.

“Would be beneficial to repeat such training programs before every deployment and non-medical members should be included.”

“I have applied the mindfulness skill and also the stress management techniques. My approach to situations and circumstances has also been modified as I try to incorporate cultural diversity and my approach interacting with my colleagues.”

Amaraa Erdenebaatar, a diplomat of Mongolia, learned skills to become a better negotiator in the 2021 UNITAR Hiroshima Training Programme on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation. Mongolia is the only country in the world with a self-declared nuclear-weapon-free status. Their status has been recognized internationally. The online UNITAR training combines theory with practice. The theory is taught by world-renowned experts. Participants also meet with hibakusha (atomic bombing survivors). The course ended with an online conference simulation. Participants negotiated a paragraph of an NPT Foreign Ministers Communiqué. Amaraa hopes to meet his course mates in person one day. He will continue promoting security and disarmament to make the world safer for his children.