While stationed in Beirut in 2006, war broke out between Israel and Lebanon, and my team helped coordinate the evacuation of United Nations staff members. We remained to help ensure essential services continued, even though the situation remained tense and highly volatile. Our office windows boarded, we persevered because we knew it was the right thing to do. Personally, I could not let down the community when they needed help the most. I had to persist.
My parents instilled a sense of commitment and resilience in me as a young girl. I was born in Tingo María, a town nestled in the Amazon rainforest in the Huanuco Region of central Peru. My family relocated to Lima, the capital city, when I was in grade school, and I was thrust into a private school setting. I received an excellent education, where the wealthy, privileged environment was a stark contrast to the humble village in which I was raised.
Many families in Tingo María lacked running water and adequate food supplies. I felt a strong connection to my Amazonian roots and a drive to make change, but political tensions kept me from visiting more often. I helped out in the local community once a month with students from my school. We volunteered at orphanages, hospitals and government schools, but I never forgot the needs of my small hometown.
Currently, I am stationed in Amman, Jordan with my family and newborn baby girl. I serve as the main support for the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for Iraq. My typical day includes organizing and sorting e-mails, delegating tasks and coordinating schedules to make sure the office runs smoothly. As a senior Personal Assistant, I help coordinate communication between missions in the Middle East, including highly sensitive or confidential material.
The United Nations has been in Iraq since 1955, and since then, has developed a presence in all eighteen governorates. The current mandate of UNAMI is to advise, support and assist the Iraqi Government in advancing political dialogue, national reconciliation, constitutional review, holding elections and referendums, as well as resolving disputed internal boundaries. In addition, various United Nations agencies are assisting with humanitarian issues, such as providing food, housing and healthcare. Currently, there is a five-year International Compact with Iraq. The Compact is a partnership with the Iraqi Government to move toward a united, democratic country at peace with its neighbors and the world.
In addition to living in Jordan, I have lived in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and the United States over my 10-year term with the United Nations. Each country had distinctive traditions, customs and lifestyles. Being open to new opportunities allowed me to uniquely experience each mission. Moving all over the world, especially with a family, requires real dedication and a firm commitment to your position at the United Nations.
My first United Nations memory was watching a documentary on famine in Ethiopia as a young girl. It reminded me of the challenges we faced locally in my hometown, Tingo María, and inspired me to apply to the Organization.
At 17 years old, I submitted my application to the United Nations, packed my bags and moved to Queens, New York in the United States. I was ready to live on my own, so I took a chance and followed my dream. Much to my good fortune I was hired nine months later. This is my tenth year with the United Nations, and I am still just as excited to work for the organization as I was on my first day.