https://www.unv.org/Success-stories/raising-banner-volunteerism-zimbabwe
That’s how I introduce myself—and it’s more than just a line. For over 15 years, I’ve worked in emergency settings, but nothing has been as meaningful as my current role: serving as a UN Volunteer with UN Women in Zimbabwe, where purpose meets passion every single day.
My name is Kudakwashe Sigobodhla. I am a UN Volunteer.
As an Emergency Response Officer focused on gender, I make sure women and girls are seen, heard, and supported when disasters strike. Whether it’s a cyclone, drought, or flood—everyone feels the impact, but women and girls often carry the heaviest load. I work to ensure their voices guide how Zimbabwe prepares for and responds to crises—so no one is left behind.
On a practical level, this means working with government departments, UN agencies, and civil society organizations to integrate gender into disaster strategies and plans. It means training grassroots women-led organizations on Gender in Humanitarian Action so they can sit at decision-making tables. It means partnering with humanitarian clusters to conduct rapid gender assessments and sharing tools such as gender checklists.
I am proud of the progress we’ve made. Women’s rights organizations from six provinces are now actively participating in subnational contingency planning forums, ensuring that women’s perspectives are heard when decisions are made. I also contributed to Zimbabwe’s new Disaster Risk Management Bill, which, once adopted, will replace outdated legislation and bring gender-sensitive governance into law. These are not abstract achievements; they affect millions of people across Zimbabwe, including women who are often the first responders in their communities.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of my work is amplifying the voices of women volunteers. Long after aid agencies leave, it is community volunteers, mostly women who continue to provide care, lead resilience efforts, and hold communities together. Yet too often, their contributions remain invisible. I see my role as making sure these women aren’t just acknowledged—they lead their communities, their lives.
What brings me joy is knowing that volunteerism is alive and thriving. It’s not just a concept. It’s what turns global goals into real change in villages, towns, and cities.
Being a UN Volunteer isn’t just something I do—it’s who I am. It’s about standing up, speaking out, and lifting others with me.
I raise the banner of volunteerism so the voices of women, girls, men, and boys in Zimbabwe and beyond are not only heard, but truly seen. Because when disaster strikes, humanity means making sure no one is left behind.
