Simuka Africa Team Briefing: July 3, 2026
Hello, All:
Welcome to your Q3 2026 Volunteer Service with SimukaAfrica.org! We are honored to have you with us. Please note the following:
This is a Humanitarian Crisis Assignment. Due to escalating geopolitical conflict and our suicide reduction mission, notifications of loss of life may occur on during the quarter.
Be advised that our Weekly Friday Briefings contain instructions regarding your assignments and our operations. Reading them each week is vital.
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Administrative Updates
The following information addresses the Start -of-Assignment transition:
Your direct supervisor is Magdelene, Simuka Africa Public Relations Advisor & 34 Gallery Curator. For Q3, her office hours are M-F, 8am - 6pm EST. Please note the time difference for your region when expecting a response to your inquiry.
If you applied for Q3 Service through UNV, be sure to complete the Essential & Mandatory Courses on the UNV E-Campus by Oct 1, 2026.
If you applied and did not see an acceptance letter from UNV regarding your Q3 service with Simuka Africa, notify us immediately.
Q3 Creative Career Focus Staff Meetings are scheduled monthly on Saturdays. Register here. Virtual Attendance is recommended.
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The August Social Media Calendar
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Online Volunteering with Simuka Africa and The 34 Gallery Initiative consists of independent, creatively open assignments. We publish based on the following criteria:
Our online staff and artists represent 35 countries. All content must adhere to laws set by the Government of Zimbabwe and rely on UN SDG language to be accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Content must be appropriate for ages 14+ and politically neutral. We will revise or ask you to revise submissions that do not meet these standards.
The 34 Gallery accepts poetry, art, and audiovisual submissions on specific themes monthly. Open Call Art instructions are here.
The Simuka Africa Journal focuses on general SDG content. Interludes only publishes SDG 3.4 Mental Health Content. Articles are 700 words minimum.
Graphics should be submitted in batches of 4, 8 or 12 based on topics of interest to you within the Briefings each week.
Videos must be 2 minutes or less. Be sure to include yourself in a video credit along with the information of the music you used. Topics are creatively open, meaning SDG 3.4 topics or suggested ones in the Briefings.
Submission is not a guarantee of publication: If a submission is rejected, we encourage you to submit your content to other publishing venues or your personal websites and social media. Also, content that is explicit, hate-based or isn’t fact-checked and sourced will not be published.
Returning Staff: Please note that all assignments must be emailed directly as we shift operations from Google to Microsoft.
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Topics Needed by July 30th
Because our volunteers continue to be impacted by ongoing intentional crisis, we list specific SDG assignments and topics in our briefings. If you have time in your schedule to complete one of these, notify us by responding to this briefing or emailing us directly:
SDG 3: Self-Esteem, Self-Harm Among Youth, Trauma Recovery, or Bullying (articles, graphics, or video)
SDG 3: Mental Health Tips for Traumatic Brain Injury & Chronic Pain (articles, graphics, or video)
SDG 4: Historic Sites in Zimbabwe (article)
SDG 4: Native Wildlife in Zimbabwe (article)
SDG 8: Future Planning (retirement, 2nd career) - (articles, graphics, or video)
SDG 8: Finance Planning & Advice for Youth - (articles, graphics, or video)
Critical Need: 34 Gallery Open Call & Promotional Videos
Critical Need: Simuka Africa SDG 4 Education Videos
Critical Need: The Digital Penpals Campaign (letter, video or graphics)
Critical Need: The Beauty Campaign (letter, video or graphics)
UN Observance: Breastfeeding Week Aug. 1-7th
UN Observance: International Youth Day Aug. 12th
UN Observance: World Humanitarian Day Aug. 19
UN Observance: International Day for People of African Descent - Aug. 31st
Can’t make the deadline? Things happen. Just notify us so your task can be reassigned.
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The United Nations System: An Introduction
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Global Insights:
IISD: The Nature-Based Infrastructure Global Resource Centre 2025 impact report
IISD: UN SDG 6 Synthesis Report on Water and Sanitation: Scaling Solutions for 2030 and Beyond
DEVEX: Merger, hub, or slimmer secretariat? What's next for UNAIDS
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United Nations Employment
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Training: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is offering 16 FREE online courses covering every aspect of intellectual property—from beginner to advanced level.
Conference: Rethinking Cities Through Care: People, Planet and the 2030 Agenda - July 8th, Virtual - “Register now to join us for our 2026 High Level Political Forum side-event online. The event will explore how cities can become more caring by prioritising people’s needs, human rights, and well-being in policymaking.”
UN Careers - the primary UN career hub
UNJOBNET - daily job listings for the entire UN System
UNJOBNET: Remote Positions - daily updated UN remote work
The World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council is a group of 20-25 young people with diverse backgrounds from countries around the world, who are actively engaged in conservation efforts in their communities. - Deadline: Aug. 2
In the framework of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty is launching an international photo contest “Nomadic cultures of Central Asia: safeguarding pastoralism traditions and biodiversity”
The UNODC Global Youth Campaign 2026 – "Your Story Can Change the Path" invites young people worldwide to use storytelling and creativity to inspire safer, more inclusive communities.
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A.I. Policy, News & Jobs
Our Simuka Africa A.I. Organizational Policy can be found here. It also includes direct links to the A.I. Tools most asked about in job interviews. Additional news:
UN Web TV: The UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance Explained - July 1, 2026
UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) have published a technical guide on AI in electoral administration.
A.I. & Tech Creative Job Opportunities:
Data Annotation: Train AI as a Medical Expert
Data Annotation: Train AI as a Legal Expert
2026 WIC Global Youth Leaders application is open now. (under age 45)
The Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme is UNESCO’s flagship initiative for emerging leaders who are driving social cohesion, inclusion, and peace through intercultural dialogue. 2026 Theme: “Human Connection and Dialogue in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”
The Google Data Center Community AI Fellowship 2026? - July 12 deadline.
The European Studies Review (ESR) Job Fair 2026 features the latest internships, traineeships, and entry-level jobs with leading EU institutions, international organizations, consulting firms, research institutes, and private-sector employers across Europe.
Applications are now open for the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026, offering outstanding early-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences the opportunity to pursue independent research at eligible UK universities and research institutions.
The Foresight Fellowship 2027 is now accepting applications and nominations for a one-year global fellowship.
UNESCO Media & Information Literacy Alliance 2026 - July 31st Deadline
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Opportunities
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I. Career Tip: DEVEX: Career Briefing - How to Reposition Your Experience in Today’s Development Job Market
I. Career Tip, II: “Turn Anxiety Into Action”- Harvard Business Review
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Careers
The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry
The GFX Challenge Grant Program, sponsored by FUJIFILM, invites aspiring photographers and videographers to submit creative project proposals for a chance to receive grant funding, professional mentorship, and access to Fujifilm GFX System equipment.
Earth Partner Prize 2026, organized by Earth Partner in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Re:wild, is inviting applications from young artists worldwide to submit original creative work addressing the ecological crisis.
The 2027 Future For Nature Awards- (between 18 to 35 years old, dedicated nature conservationists committed to protecting wild species)
Call for entries - Submit your film for Anima 2027 now!
The 4ther Firm designs, manages, and delivers programs that create real, lasting impact across Africa. Register for a free training program.
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Food For Thought
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I. Self-Care Tip: “Joy Will Find You — If You Let It” | David Larbi, TED Talks
In closing, please note that the establishment of a professional self-care regime is also recommended during your time with us. We offer a relaxed atmosphere so that your volunteer experience is an exploration of creativity, critical thinking & calm.
Over 90% of the professionals volunteering with us for the last 15 months are in the early or late stages career burnout.
Therefore, during Q3 our Simuka Africa Briefings will:
List SDG 3.4 methods of self-care that maximize your productivity, address burnout, and help adjust your schedule to your specific needs.
Remember: Every action you take with Simuka Africa saves a life. From at-risk outreach on site to virtual mental health arts advocacy, your efforts here brings hope to those we serve.
This weekend, do something that reminds you why your love your life. ❤
-The Simuka Africa Team
May hope, peace & unity be with you.
