Volunteering across continents

In late March, 22-year-old Wu Miao concluded her volunteer service with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Bolivia, a Spanish-speaking country in South America.

As a student of economic statistics at Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, Hubei province, Wu vividly recalls coming across the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) recruitment notice in May 2024.Without hesitation, she applied.

"I've always been passionate about volunteering and want to make a positive impact," she explained.

This passion was evident throughout her university years. For three years, Wu was an active member of a public welfare committee, organizing and overseeing more than 15 volunteer events.

One of her most memorable initiatives was a Children's Day flower sale she organized to raise funds for rural education programs, supporting children in remote areas.

Despite her extensive volunteer background, Wu approached the UNV selection process with thorough preparation. She studied the UN's structure and the WFP's mission, taught herself basic Spanish, and familiarized herself with Bolivia's history, environment, and culture.

"Becoming a UN volunteer presented a valuable opportunity to assist people in other countries," she said.

The most novel aspect for Wu was the second-round interview, conducted entirely in English. Although she had passed the College English Test level 6 (CET-6) during her first year at university, the experience of an all-English interview was still a challenge to her.

"I spent a month improving my spoken English and prepared over 20,000 words' worth of mock interview responses," Wu said. Before the interview, she repeatedly reviewed her answers so that when the time came, she could respond confidently and fluently to every question.

The next morning, she received an email with the subject line: "You are the preferred candidate for a UNV assignment". At that moment, she realized her volunteer journey was about to take an exciting new turn.

Soon after, Wu arrived in La Paz, Bolivia — the world's highest capital city by altitude — where she was set to begin her work.

This was Wu's first trip abroad. Coming from the low-altitude region of Sichuan province, she struggled with altitude sickness upon arrival. She also found Bolivia's unfamiliar cuisine challenging, leading to ongoing digestive issues.

Despite these initial challenges, Wu quickly adapted to her new environment. "With more exercise, the altitude sickness gradually improved, and I learned how to cook within a month," she said.

The warmth and hospitality of the local people also helped ease her adjustment. "I had learned about Bolivia's culture through documentaries, and La Paz, which means 'peace' in Spanish, truly lived up to its name," she said.