When Mustafa Taha began volunteering online with the United Nations, he was a young Iraqi graphic designer pursuing his master’s degree in the United Kingdom. He brought technical talent, curiosity and a desire to contribute, and that first opportunity would take him further than he could have imagined.
Online volunteering was not only a chance to give back. For Mustafa, it became a turning point: a way to see how his design skills could support real development work.
As an Online Volunteer with UNDP Iraq, Mustafa supported the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Programme through graphic design. His work helped translate technical ideas and information into visual stories that could reach wider audiences and support development work.
“I still remember seeing the first UN report I designed being published,” Mustafa recalls. “Seeing my work become part of something much bigger made it a moment I’ll always remember.”
That moment changed the way Mustafa understood his talent. Design was no longer simply something creative or technical. It became a way to communicate complex issues, contribute to public good and be part of change.
“Volunteering has shown me how much you can do with design when you put it in the right place. Every project has been a chance to learn and experiment.”
Each assignment brought more than experience. Mustafa built confidence, learned to work across cultures and institutions, and began to see new possibilities for where his skills could take him. Over time, volunteering opened doors to professional opportunities across the UN system, supporting his growth from a young designer looking for a place to contribute to a creative professional working on a wider stage.
Through the Online Volunteering platform, UNDP Iraq connected Mustafa’s design skills with practical development needs, giving him space to contribute meaningfully while also growing professionally.
Mustafa’s story resonates for Youth Day because it reminds us that young people are not just future leaders; they are already shaping change when trusted with meaningful opportunities.
Today, Mustafa continues his professional journey at United Nations Headquarters in New York City. His path from online volunteering while studying abroad to contributing at the heart of the UN shows what can happen when young people are given space to put their talents into action.
On International Youth Day, UNDP Iraq celebrates young people like Mustafa, who bring their talents, curiosity and commitment to development, and who show how volunteering can open pathways for both personal growth and public good.
For Mustafa, that first step was online volunteering. It helped turn talent into purpose, and possibility into a path forward.
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