Haruki Ume spoke to the UN News at Pavilion of some at Expo 2025 Currently detained in the Japanese city of Osaka.
A section of the pavilion includes a rotating presentation focusing on a specific and recently united United Nations Entity, attention turned to the UN volunteers program.
“At the age of 17, I went to the United States on an educational exchange program and my main motivation was to play baseball and discover American culture.
I met many other people from Africa and Asia as well as Europe and I was shocked, then impressed by their passion and motivation to support their villages and their communities at home.
A boy from Azerbaijan told me that he had been selected for the exchange of more than 100 candidates as the only student in his country. Consequently, he said that he was responsible for not wasting his time and representing all these other candidates and his country at best of his capacities.
Haruki Ume plays with two boys during a visit to the Philippines in 2017.
It was at this moment that I decided that I wanted to contribute more to society and I therefore started studying development problems. I have traveled as much as possible during my vacation, in places like Cambodia, the Philippines, India, Peru, Egypt and Uganda.
As a volunteer, I supported education and other initiatives during the field missions and I was really motivated by helping people less lucky than me. I also learned a lot from these people, so I really appreciated it an exchange of experiences and knowledge.
Understand the outside world
I grew up in a small town in rural Japan where there were no foreigners. People grow, work and die there and many never live foreign cultures or really do not understand the outside world.
A member of the staff of the UN volunteers explains the role of the organization with visitors to the United Nations Pavilion.
I remember having been nervous at the idea of speaking English and eating food to which I was not used to, but I wanted to unravel these personal barriers and widen my world.
Being open to new experiences has facilitated adaptation to other cultures and this understanding promotes peace and friendship and, ultimately, international cooperation.
I worked at the United Nations Pavilion at the 2025 Expo to promote the UN and the work of the UN volunteers. I do this in the mind to build cooperation and create a positive change in the world.
Expo 2025 brings the world to Osaka and offers Japanese people to discuss how we can work together more effectively to create a fairer and more peaceful world. »»
UN and volunteer
- Based in Bonn, in Germany, UNV was created in 1970 and is active in around 169 countries and territories each year.
- In 2024, UNV deployed more than 14,500 volunteers to nearly 60 United Nations entities around the world.
- They occupy various roles, in particular: community development, human rights, humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding, medical services and communications.
- 2026 was appointed by the UN as the International year of volunteers
- Become a Non -volobilier