As a way of extending services and imparting his skills, Zalave 'Larry' Dinas joined the United Nations Volunteers in May 2008. He is the current UNICEF Water Sanitation and Hygiene Officer in Cotabato where he stays with his family.

A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Larry is motivated by the needs of the people and the community for his skills and work. Prior to his post he worked as a project engineer in one of the projects funded by the Asian Development Bank, served different international organizations and became a service provider for construction and water system projects for the Act for Peace Program.

With a selfless mind and a passion for what he is doing, Larry is very much willing to reach his hand out and do his best despite minimal benefits. Though he thinks that being apart from his family during out-of-town field works is very risky, he believes that his family understand and have adjusted to the situation that he is in. Larry is no super human; he also gets tempted by big job offers that come his way, but despite these temptations he still stands by his own belief that helping other people is the best job.

He considers volunteering to be his profession as he lives with it wherever he goes and has volunteered ever since he started working. Larry knows how best to use his skill and the education he has attained; he is using it for the benefit of other people.

Larry feels the need of his country, the Philippines, for more volunteers. According to him the government's efforts and works are not enough, which means that the skills and cooperation of the people play a very important role in the development of the nation.

Being very proud in helping other people he says, 'You work not because of money but because you feel that people need your work.'

###

Interviewed and written by Francheska Garcia, UNV Communications Intern
Editted by Louise Pine, Online Volunteer