Nanah Kamara from Sierra Leone is serving for peace in South Sudan as an UNPOL officer. This 28-year-old Police Adviser tells us that for her, working with local policing counterparts and building their capacities is perhaps one of the most rewarding things about being a United Nations peacekeeper.

Tell us what your daily routine is like and the impact you have.

As an UNPOL officer, one of my major tasks is to train local counterparts from the South Sudan National Police Services in patrol operations, investigative techniques and handling suspects in custody. Basically, I work to build their capacity in key policing areas. My colleagues and I also help them build their skills in taking statements, writing reports, conducting interviews with people who may be suspected of a crime and so forth. Additionally, I am also one of the COVID-19 support officers in Wau where I am deployed. In this role, I make sure that all pandemic prevention and mitigation measures are being adhered to by UNMISS personnel so that we, as peacekeepers, stay safe ourselves and protect the communities we are here to serve.

What do you like most about your job?

I love everything about being a police officer and then, to get the opportunity to serve with a UN Peacekeeping mission and be able to empower other police officers from the world’s newest country is my childhood dream come true. My country, Sierra Leone, also suffered greatly from civil war and I recall visiting the UN peacekeeping mission there (UNAMSIL) with my friends in 1999. That’s when I promised myself that I would become a police officer and a peacekeeper some day and my wish came true! The most satisfying moments for me are when the South Sudanese police enjoy and absorb the trainings I deliver.

What’s one thing you have learned since starting your mission?

One of the most important things I’ve learnt from my job is respect for diversity. Working in a community where you have to interact with different people with various background is not really easy thing but working with colleagues from different nationalities at UNMISS has helped me to understand people have diverse ways of living and working. It’s made me more tolerant and patient. Plus, I’ve learnt a lot from all my co-workers.