UVU students were blessed to have guest speaker, Ms. Hawa Diallo, Public Information Officer at United Nations Department of Public Information, come and speak to them on  April 3, 2018.  Ms. Hawa has been part of the United Nations from a very young age, and this experience has enabled her to travel to many different countries and participate in some of the most important principles that the United Nations stands for.  Ms. Diallo grew up in Westchester, New York, advocating for human rights from a very young age. She remembers as far back as the 2^nd grade when she began standing up for students out at recess and promoting people’s rights.  She graduated from college in 1986 and received her first job at the United Nations as a tour guide.  Growing up in a family that very politically active, as well as her father working for the United Nations her family was able to help her get this first job.  One of her favorite aspects of working at the United Nations is the level of diversity.  She spoke about how many different people she was able to meet and how many different viewpoints she was exposed to as she worked there, which helped her learn more about the United Nations.

Ms. Hawa Diallo during presentation before students

 After working for a large amount of time as a tour guide, becoming a knowledgeable in the structure and information of the United Nations, she was able to become involved in peacekeeping operations.  She has been able to travel all over the world, participating in peace operations and has been able to fulfill what she loves to do, and that is help people.  She has been everywhere from New York City, to Cambodia, Somalia, and many other countries that have been facing hardships as they are developing. She has also been able to work in Kenya for 10 years, at the only United Nations headquarters on the continent of Africa.

After speaking somewhat about her career at the United Nations, she spoke for a moment on some of the different jobs available in the United Nations.  I asked her a specific question about what jobs are available at the United Nations, and also what jobs the United Nations seems to always be in need of.  Apparently right now at the United Nations, there is a lot of opportunities for jobs such as secretaries and such, but the United Nations in the past has also had to lay a lot of people off due to modernization and the progression in technology.  This has caused loss of jobs.  Ms. Hawa Diallo seemed to have a very interesting passion for peacekeeping.  There were students that asked about future internships for peace keeping at the United Nations that opportunities are available.

A group photo with students and faculty at UVU

I believe that the future of the United Nations could be both bright and dim.  Because of all the problems occurring in our world today, sometimes we question if there are any solutions to these problems at all.  I believe that the United Nations can make an impact on some of these problems, but I believe that they need to come up with better solutions.  Overall, from this presentation I would say that the United Nations is a great institution that has plenty of good motivations and intentions, but the entire international community must come together in order to make a difference.  She did a great job in speaking today and I learned more about all the opportunities that the United Nations provides to students, and it would be very interesting to work there.

Visit of Ms. Hawa Diallo took place thanks to a new partnership established between UVU and the United Nations Department of Public Information in November last year when UVU became an Associate member of the UN DPI.

           Nathan Erickson, Utah Valley University student

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STUDENT REFLECTIVE ESSAYS

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Marie Chantal Niwenshuti – Gaining experience about advocacy at UN from Ms. Diallo

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Caitlin Tomly – Inspiring presentation of Ms.Hawa Diallo

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Damon Ashcraft-Visit from UN representative Hawa Diallo

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Ezra Pugliano – Presentation of Ms. Hawa Diallo about UN

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Tim-Jenkins-In-Class UN Speaker

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Cougar Einfeldt – Hawa Diallo How to get involved with the UN

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Jessica Marinho-Learning from Ms. Hawa Diallo about United Nation

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Mckenna-Gifford-Learning about UN from Ms. Hawa Diallo

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Karson Kester-Hawa Diallo-A Life Spent in the United Nations

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Emmanuel Omaria-Gaining experience about advocacy at UN from Ms. Diallo