Bomi County hosted a number of activities in December including a city clean-up across Tubmanburg City that was orchestrated by the Mayor’s Office in commemoration of the International Volunteer Day. This brought together not only the local community but also the Liberia Red Cross, NGOs, youth groups, NIBATT 28 and the Nepalese FPU. The latter also hosted a medical camp in Bejah Town, Senjeh District, which benefitted over 100 adults and children. In addition, the Nepalese police gave students of Bejah Elementary School a taste of their country’s cuisine by distributing food.

“Volunteering builds up the community and helps them to see that the UN is on their side,” said the Commander of the FPU Tubmanburg and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bharat Khania. “It also helps us to work with them and for them, and makes us more aware of what they need.”

UNV Civil Affairs Expert at UNMIL, Bhuvan Silwal from Nepal, says he comes from a country where service and volunteerism are held in high esteem. “Serving the community is the purpose of the UN, and these additional services add value. Plus, we get to see the immediate returns of our work.”