UN Marks 80 Years With Stories of Lives Changed Worldwide

At 15, Afaf faced an impossible choice to help her family: find work, or marry a 40-year old man. At a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-backed ‘Safe Space’, she received counselling and training. The marriage was finally cancelled.

Millions of people across the world have been positively impacted by the work of the United Nations, and some of their stories are now being featured in an exhibition at the organisation’s New York headquarters.

The exhibition, titled “Shared Lives, Shared Future”, showcases stories from nearly 200 countries and reflects the UN’s evolving spirit and mission over the past eight decades.

From humanitarian relief and education to development and sustainability, it presents real-life accounts of individuals and communities whose lives have been transformed through the UN’s initiatives.

Here are some of their personal reflections:

Mariam Dreams of the Return of UNRWA Schools

Before the ongoing conflict, UNRWA — the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees — ran schools across the Gaza Strip, providing education for around 300,000 children.

One girl, Mariam, who studied at an UNRWA school before the war, said, “We miss the UN schools we used to go to. I want life to go back to how it was before.”

Today, UNRWA, in cooperation with other UN agencies and partners, continues to provide life-saving aid amid the devastating humanitarian crisis.

Sudanese Refugee Radwa Turns Aid Into a Life Project

Since the outbreak of war in Sudan in April 2023, nearly 12 million people have been forcibly displaced within and beyond the country, with 878,000 fleeing to neighbouring Chad alone.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has provided shelter, food, medical care, and education, as well as relocation from insecure border areas.

Among them is Radwa, who fled Sudan to Chad. Combining her entrepreneurial skills with cash assistance from UNHCR, she started a small home-based bakery in the Farchana refugee camp.

“I like helping people because everyone needs support. That is why I support fellow refugee women so that we can grow together and no one is left behind. It is important to stand with our brothers and sisters, to help them heal,” she said.

Yemeni Girl Escapes Child Marriage With UN Support

“At age 15 I was pressured to marry, but the UN helped me get out of it,” said a Yemeni girl.

In a “safe space” supported by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), she received counselling and training, and the marriage was eventually cancelled.

Lebanese Firefighter Tackles Danger With UN Equipment

As part of its emergency response programmes, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) provided essential equipment to the Beirut Fire Brigade, making its operations safer and more effective.

Layal, a firefighter, said, “The new equipment provided by the UN greatly improves our safety and readiness.”

From Drugs to Cabbage Fields in Afghanistan

With support from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Afghan farmer Zahoor — along with thousands of others — shifted from growing opium to cultivating legal crops, turning his land into a sustainable source of income and contributing to a safer, drug-free world.

“With UN support, I transitioned from opium to cabbage farming. I received training in modern agriculture and was provided with pesticides to protect my crops,” Zahoor said.

Eco-Industrial Parks: A UN Partnership for Sustainability

Eco-industrial parks bring companies together to improve performance and sustainability. The Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) supports such parks across Ukraine through policy guidance, capacity-building, and technical assistance.

Liudmyla, a manager of an eco-industrial park in Ukraine, said, “Since 2020, we have been actively cooperating with the UN on energy-saving projects, which has helped us cut gas and electricity use and move towards more energy-efficient production.”

Innovative Water Solutions in Malaysia

Rabiah, who works at the Johor Port Authority in Malaysia, partnered with the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to design and implement a water-saving system.

The UNCTAD Port Management Network promotes best practices, supports South-South cooperation, and drives progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“With the UN’s support, we implemented a solution that saves 10 million litres of fresh water every year,” Rabiah said.