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Candelario migrated to Costa Rica at the age of 90, and Juan Carlos did the same when he was 10 years old. They both arrived looking for opportunities to fulfill their dream of starting a better life. With the support of the State, the community and the United Nations, today they are achieving it in their own terms.

By the end of 2020, COVID-19 had killed nearly 2 million people and left many millions more with lasting injury. It also led to larger crises in health, jobs, education, domestic violence, migration, and more. That’s a lot of fires to put out. But the United Nations is built to deal with many challenges at once.

As the world wraps up 2020, we recognize the continued coordinated efforts of the UN teams worldwide. Today, we highlight some of the work taking place across the globe. 

The key, experts say, is empowering community members to deliberate on how their practices relate to their own deeply held values.

Clement Ejim, 33, already had a fulfilling career as a teacher in the school of health in the small town of Abuochiche, Nigeria. Then, about a year ago, he came across an opportunity to expand his work. Clement became part of the Spotlight Initiative.

For the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, the UN’s call to “Orange the World” comes with the rallying cry to “Fund, Respond, Prevent and Collect” – bridge the funding gaps, ensure essential services for survivors of violence, focus on prevention and collect the data that we need to adapt and improve life-saving services for women and girls. This year we are handing over the mic to them. 

Sometimes, the crisis in West Africa and the Sahel region is so difficult and so complicated as to seem virtually unsolvable. But where many people see only a mission impossible, the United Nations sees an opportunity.