I am Larisa Khojazada, I am originally from Mazar-i- Sharif City. I graduated from Civil Engineering from Balkh University on 2012 and since the day I graduated from University I’ve tried many

times to get a job on my professional field, but I couldn’t.

As other Afghan youths, I totally lose hope and tried to leave Afghanistan becoming a refugee in another country.

One day I was searching for vacancies in job sites and found that UN- Habitat was announcing a position of surveyor for City for All programme. A job surveying and registering all properties within its municipal boundaries. As usual, I prepared my Curriculum and applied for such position. I was reluctant of the outcome as I already applied for many other positions with no success but this time it was different. Not long afterward I received a call from UN- Habitat, they were inviting me to attend a written test and I can tell you that it was a really wonderful moment in my life.  At first, I was uneasy because I didn’t know anybody there, but after passing the test and the interview I was selected and signed the contract.

I witness that the recruitment process was transparent and provided equal opportunities for women and men. In total, about  60 men and women were called for the interview (including 25 female and 35 male) out of which,  30 were selected. Now we are all working collectively for surveying and registering properties in Mazar-i-Sharif city.

Now my life is changed. I feel as one of the happiest woman in the world because I am with UN-Habitat and I work in my professional field. I am very happy that I serve my country while I support my family and increase my capacity and learn new things about urban development by daily interaction with engineers and other professionals from the technical team.