CAIRO: “She reached for the highest professional standards in her work,earned the respect and affection of her colleagues and took profound pleasure in life.
Her throaty laughter fills this room still, are the words inscribed by Nadia Younes’ former colleagues on the wall of the United Nations Spokesman’s Office in New York.
In her tragically cut-short life,Younes accomplished much – she had been an active cog in the United Nation’s wheel since joining in 1970 and, according to Secretary General Kofi Annan, was “a trailblazer in the United Nations from early on in her career. Her sister, Nahed, told The Daily Star Egypt that “Nadia’s life had so much meaning, we didn’t want her death to go meaningless. that’s why we are giving it some meaning through a memorial fund that will carry on through generations. Following Younes’ death, her family was approached by the American University in Cairo (AUC), who wanted to name the next Model United Nations (MUN) after her.The family immediately approved, and together with AUC, created this fund that seeks to sustain free activities and benefit students desiring to enter into a similar career as that of Younes.
At present,the fund has three functions.The first is the Nadia Younes Conference and Meeting Room,which will be housed in the political science department at AUC’s new campus – the room will be used primarily by students involved in MUN.
The second function is the annual lecture series in which once a year,a prominent person is enlisted to give a lecture.This year, Annan visited Cairo and gave a speech in Younes’ name.
The third active function of the fund is the Nadia Younes Award for Public and Humanitarian Service, which is a prize that goes to the graduating senior who has exhibited the most commitment to the community and humanitarian services.
Younes began her career in the UN admirably – no history with the organization and no connections, she simply applied and made her way up. She began in the Department of Public Information, and after spending many years in various posts in that department, was recognized by the higher ups. Javier Perez De Cuellar, the Secretary General at the time,offered Younes a job as his spokesperson 1988.
In 1996,Younes returned to her first department, as she became the Director of the United Nations Information Center in Rome, followed by a post as Director of Media Division of Public Information.
In 1998, Younes became Chief of Protocol for Annan – she organized the Millennium summit and was one of the principal players.At this point, however,Younes wanted to become more involved in the humanitarian side of the UN, and so she seconded to UN Mission in Kosovo and was very much involved in government building on various aspects.
In 2002, she became Executive Director of the World Health Organization, in charge of External Relations and Governing Bodies. In May 2003, Younes was Chief of Staff to Sergio Vieira De Mello in Baghdad, helping the process of rebuilding Iraq, until the fateful bombing on Aug. 19,which destroyed the UN headquarters and took many lives, including Younes’.
According to Ahmed Maher, former foreign minister of Egypt,”Nadia was an honorary model for the Egyptian woman, During Nadia’s long service for the UN in the different positions she occupied, she was a link between her deep love for her country and the international work on which people pin their hopes in their struggle for just and an end to war, ignorance, disease and backwardness.
All Contributions to the Memorial Fund will be recognized on a plaque to be placed in the Nadia Younes Conference and Meeting Room, as well as being listed in the AUC’s annual President’s Report, which reaches over 20,000 people.
Donations to the fund can be sent to 21 Abdel Meguid El Rimal St., 7th Floor Cairo, or online at www.aucegypt.edu.
