From Ghana to the Eastern Caribbean: Gabriel’s journey to safeguard children’s right to clean water

For years I’ve worked in water, sanitation and hygiene, but for me it’s never just been a profession. I believe every child, no matter how remote their community, deserves the very best in life: safe water to drink, a clean toilet to use, and the basic hygiene services that so many take for granted. That belief has guided me every step of the way.

At UNICEF, I spend much of my time with policy makers and service providers, making sure water and sanitation services don’t stop when disaster strikes. Whether it’s a hurricane in the Caribbean or flooding in West Africa, I work with partners to strengthen coordination, preparedness and response. My role also focuses on helping communities and schools to build climate-resilient systems that will endure through drought, storms or rising seas.

Growing up in Ghana taught me resilience. It’s a vast country with striking contrasts: skyscrapers in the city, mud huts in the villages, pockets of extreme wealth side-by-side with stark poverty. Travelling across the country opened my eyes, but it also grounded me. It taught me to strive for more while remaining thankful for what I already had.

After over a decade with UNICEF Ghana, I was ready for something different. I’ve always been drawn to new challenges, so when the vacancy in the Eastern Caribbean came up, I knew it was the right time. A new place and a new programme felt like the fresh challenge I was seeking.

Working in the Caribbean has been eye-opening. The multi-country approach demands collaboration across borders, and climate change is never an abstract concept here. It is part of every single decision we make.

I started out in the private sector, but it was with Plan International, a child-centred NGO, that I first saw how my work could change lives. That experience stayed with me. UNICEF felt like the next step, an opportunity to make a bigger impact on the most vulnerable communities.

One of my most fulfilling moments came during COVID. I filmed a simple video on how to build a handwashing device and shared it online. It was something I did at home, without much thought. But UNICEF saw its potential, had it professionally produced, and shared it widely. That little idea reached families in rural areas and helped them set up their own handwashing stations. Knowing that something so small could ripple out into so many homes was a powerful moment.

Away from work, I love action films, fiction, and travelling, especially road trips. There’s something about a long drive that clears the mind.

But my ultimate goal goes beyond any job title. One day, I want to return to Ghana and establish a foundation that works with less privileged people. I want to empower them, help them improve their livelihoods, and give them the chance of a better life.