In September of 2024, QUNO’s offices in both New York and Geneva bid fond farewells to this year’s cohort of Programme Assistants. Natalie Dewar and Nyeri Otero Flanagan departed from QUNO’s New York office to pursue their future endeavours, and Anna Aguto, Maria Kamenias, and Chatrina Schumacher reached the end of their terms at QUNO in Geneva. The entire QUNO team thanks these committed advocates of peace and justice for their hard work and contributions to our programmes and community. We wish them the best of luck in their next steps! 

As their terms drew to a close, departing Programme Assistants offered reflections on their time at QUNO: 

    “As a QUNO PA, I had the opportunity to deepen my understanding of international climate policy and science, to learn through experience in international spaces like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and to be a part of a small, resilient, and collaborative team in Geneva. Working from the Quaker values kept me grounded and inspired to continue along a path advocating for rights-based, equitable, and transformative climate policy.” - Anna Aguto 

    "My year as a QUNO Programme Assistant has really allowed me to grow professionally while being able to work on topics that I am truly passionate about. Being able to learn, grow, and work amongst other people who are driven in the work they do is something I am extremely grateful to have at QUNO and I am excited to see what the next couple months will bring." - Maria Kamenias 

    “My year with QUNO was a priceless opportunity to engage with international Quaker Service work that has and will shape me professionally and personally. I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to help shape QUNO's work with the   Korea Working Group, and supporting Indigenous Peoples representatives and the Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC) during the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Engaging with Quaker work and having the opportunity to meet diverse Quakers in NYC and across the Northeast of the United States has also rededicated me to Quaker values.” - Nyeri Otero Flanagan 

    "Over this past year at QUNO, I've not only learned a lot about QUNO's values and methods of work but have also grown professionally. The challenges made me step out of my comfort zone and offered unique opportunities for an entry-level position. In the current global context, QUNO's longstanding commitment to rights- and social justice-based approaches on peace and disarmament is more important than ever and it's been a privilege to have the opportunity to learn more about it and contribute to it." - Chatrina Schumacher 

Some of this year’s cohort of PAs shared their plans for their futures, including continuing connections with QUNO. Anna looks forward to continuing to work on issues of climate change as a Programme Assistant Fellow at the Friends National Committee on Legislation (FCNL) in Washington, DC. Maria will continue to work with QUNO in Geneva through the end of the year as the Human Rights and Refugee Project Officer. Nyeri is beginning a course of study to attain her Master of Science degree in Global Development at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London in the United Kingdom. Chatrina will also continue to work with QUNO’s Geneva office as the Peace & Disarmament Programme Officer through the end of 2024.  

As they continue their journeys in a multitude of directions, the QUNO team is confident that all of this year’s departing PAs will accomplish wonderful things and continue to demonstrate dedication to fostering lasting and just peace in their communities. 

Each year QUNO’s teams in both New York and Geneva welcome emerging professionals with a passion for peace and justice to contribute to our efforts as Programme Assistants. These 12-month appointments offer recent graduates and early-career professionals the opportunity to gain valuable experience working with multiple facets of the United Nations  and the chance to learn from QUNO staff while contributing to our initiatives.