I have a passion for working within the development sector. I feel I have found a home of sorts working for the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (UNAPCICT/UNESCAP). The mission of our Centre is to strengthen the efforts of the Asian and Pacific countries to use information and communication technology (ICT) in their socio-economic development through human and institutional capacity building. We hope our work will help nations to narrow ICT human resource gaps, remove barriers to ICT adoption, and promote the application of ICT in accelerating socio-economic development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The importance of our mission constantly inspires me to make a difference in all facets of my work within our Centre.

My work is motivated by a volunteer opportunity I experienced before the launch of my professional career with the United Nations. While living in Bangkok, I volunteered with the local Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) to build a small school for Hill Tribe children who lived in the northern part of Thailand. Their parents are Hill Tribe people who neither acquired Thai citizenship nor speak the Thai language. Without citizenship, they are denied access to basic government welfare benefits and employment. As a result, most of the children do not have the opportunity to attend a public school. They are also vulnerable to injustices such as child labor and child prostitution. During my time as a volunteer, I assisted in building a school, and helped to teach Thai and English to these children. I learned it was important for them to receive an education so that they can have better opportunities be of service to their communities. My experience at the United Nations made me realize there is so much work to be done to reduce the gap between those who have and those who have not. There are indeed “concrete measurable actions” we can take to actively change the lives of others.

Efficient administrative support is necessary for the successful implementation of any development project, and I am proud of what I am doing. With this in mind, I try my best to perform efficiently by supporting the programme activities so that eventually, our Centre, achieves the ultimate goals of the United Nations. My career goal is to further accumulate professional experience working in the areas of budget and financial management and one day become an administrative or budget officer.

Living in Incheon is different and exciting. Language is the greatest challenge especially in the Republic of Korea where most of the community only speaks the Korean language. Rather than constantly experience a language barrier, I have decided that learning the language seems to be the best answer. I therefore spent time studying the language and meeting a lot of local friends during my first two years here. Understanding the language provides me the opportunity to enrich my life both at the workplace and outside the office.

My duty station is located in the newly-developed city called Songdo in Incheon. When I first came to the office three years ago, only a few buildings and the ocean could be seen in the area. It has been exciting to witness the fast-paced development of this city. Within three years, the city has been transformed into one of the most modern in the world. I also enjoy looking over the construction of the cable-stayed 21.73 km Incheon Grand Bridge. It is the world’s seventh longest bridge. The bridge connects Songdo city mainland with the Yeongjong Island, where Incheon International Airport is located. It was fully connected in the middle of the ocean only last month. When you work in the development sector, it is exciting to witness first-hand the development of your own community.