Eighty Years of the United Nations: Lives Transformed, Futures Shared

2025 marks the 80^th anniversary of the United Nations. Millions of people from around the world have been positively impacted by the efforts and work led by the UN and its agencies over the past eight decades.

To highlight these stories, the “Shared Lives, Share Future” exhibition is being showcased at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The exhibition presents stories from nearly 200 countries and reflects the UN’s evolving spirit and mission over time.

The UN’s efforts span from humanitarian relief and education to development and sustainability.

UNRWA: Providing Education in Palestine

Mariam is a Palestinian refugee who studied at a UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) school in the Gaza Strip before the war. These schools provided education for around 300,000 children, acting as an integral part of the education system in Palestine. Mariam said, “We miss the UN schools we used to go to. I want life to go back to how it was before.”

UNRWA continues to provide life-saving aid in the region in cooperation with other UN agencies.

UNDP: Equipping Firefighters in Lebanon

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) provides essential equipment to the Beirut Fire Brigade as a part of its emergency response programs. This effort aims to make the firefighter’s mission safer and more effective. Layal, a firefighter in Lebanon said: “The new equipment provided by the UN greatly improves our safety and readiness.”

UNODC: Transforming Agriculture in Afghanistan

Zahoor is an Afghan farmer who relied on cultivating opium for his livelihood. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supports farmers in transforming from opium to legal farming. Zahoor successfully transformed his farm into a cabbage farm through receiving modern agriculture training and pesticides to protect his new crops. These efforts have contributed to a safer world free of drugs and sustainable income for the farmers.

The UN News article “Lives transformed: Stories from 80 years of UN work across the world” highlights more stories like these on how the UN has contributed to improving people’s livelihoods worldwide. As the UN marks 80 years of action, these stories inspire renewed commitment to peace, dignity, and shared progress.

Read the full article here.