Gavin David White
"When volunteering to make a positive contribution to the lives of others – you inevitably enrich your own life".
When volunteering to make a positive contribution to the lives of others – you inevitably enrich your own life. This is a basic truth that has inspired me during my time volunteering with UNV during 2008.
There have been many challenges since I arrived in Albania; adjusting to living and in a new country and culture, grappling with the rudimentary of the Albanian language and working with a new organization and in a new development context. All of which have proved to be both personally rewarding and enriching. Working as an Information Officer within the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator I have been fortunate enough to support a variety of engaging projects, programmes and events within the One UN Programme in Albania. One of the most memorable experiences to date has been working with the UNDP/UNV Joint Programme, Empowering the Vulnerable Communities of Albania. I designed an overall communications plan, undertook field visits to the project’s intervention areas, produced articles and communication materials to promote the key issues of minority rights and integration and the projects’ key milestones and achievements and coordinated press visits.
In addition, I designed and produced a documentary entitled “Roma Voices” with the support of the Joint Programme’s UNV Community Development Officers working in Tirana, Elbasan and Fier. The documentary is narrated by members of the Roma community themselves as they describe the challenges they face and their hopes and aspirations for the future. Throughout my communications work in 2008 I have worked to place individuals at the heart of development process. The documentary can be viewed online here.
I am very thankful to UNV Albania for giving me the opportunity of volunteering for development. Through their support I have been able to make a tangible contribution towards improving the lives of people in Albania while supporting the invaluable work of the United Nations in the Country.
