Fieldnotes: Blogging on UNICEF's child survival work in the field

Clay inspires me to be a better person.
This is a wonderful cause and I wish Unicef well in all their endeavours for the Children of the World.

Yes, amazing.

I am elated that Clay has been such a major factor in raising money for the children of Afghanistan. UNICEF certainly made a wise decision in getting Clay Aiken on board. He truly cares about the well-being of ALL children - in the US and abroad. Clay continues to amaze me with all that he does for others. He is role model for adults, as well as children. He never ceases to inspire me and he has made me a better person by the example that he has set for all of us to follow. I know that the goal for Afghanistan will not only be reached...but, most likely surpassed. Many thanks to UNICEF for all of the good work it does around the world, and for picking such wonderful representatives to represent our country. I have followed the work of other celebrities, also, and it is heart-warming to see their involvement in such worthy causes.

Many thanks for the pictures, which are beautiful, and for UNICEF's quick response to the cries of HELP! from Canadian fans who were unable to donate on the normal site. I'm in awe at how quickly you turned that one around, and have now made my first donation. I hope to be able to do that several more times prior to the time for this drive being up.
Thanks for this opportunity to "Give a little bit" and to show the world how much we love and support the man who asked for our help - Clay Aiken.

Lori

Really encouraging report about Afghanistan and how the children are doing. Hope security and prosperity continue to spread and flourish to all corners of this beautiful country.
Proud to be a Clay fan. And so proud of him for his work with UNICEF. You chose a wonderful ambassador who cares so much for the children.

Ever since I was young I raised money for UNICEF. When I was in 6th grade I raised the most money in my entire school. But honestly, I had no idea what the money was used for. Thanks to Clay, I have learned so much more about it. I have gladly donated and will continue to support this great work.

I'm so sorry that I was ignorant for so long.

I particularly liked--in Clay's statements to the press--his analogy that "spring" has come to the country after their long, dark winter. What a wonderful way of describing the hope and promise that UNICEF is bringing to the Afghani people! I'm looking forward to reading more about his trip. =)

Almost $70,000 already? That's so exciting! Unicef, Clay, and his fans make an awesome team!

UNICEF surely knew what they were doing in asking Clay Aiken to be a member of their team. (Little did they know, however, that by bringing Clay on board, they also brought the hundreds of thousands of his fans). It is truly a wonderful thing to see what he, and the other UNICEF ambassadors, are doing just because of a sincere desire to use their celebrity status to do something good and worthwhile. WOW, 90% after two days? AMAZING is the word.

$90,000, now!!!!! WOW!! Let's go for $500,000!!!

I am so proud of the work Clay Aiken has done as a UNICEF Ambassador....his fans are true blue, loyal and supportive of him and his efforts to promote education for children throughout the world. He speaks loudly for the tiny voices that can not speak for themselves....and we love him for that!

Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to support him and his work, he has touched our hearts in many ways and we will continue to support his work with UNICEF.

Dear Clay,

I've made my donation today. I'm happy to help out the kids in Afghanistan. You've inspired me with your work with UNICEF.

You ask, we answer, quite resoundingly, don't you think!!

Thanks to UNICEF for making a donation link for Canadians to donate via UNICEF Canada. I hope we will be eligible for the special items set aside for those who donated $50 or more. If not, I'm glad to have contributed anyway. :o)

I've forwarded the link to my friends and colleagues to help out a good cause.

Proud to be a Claynadian Claymate,
zippy888
Calgary, Alberta
CANADA

I am so pleased to be able to be a part of the work that UNICEF is doing for the children of the world, and in this case, Afghanistan. The pictures of Clay with these children just touched my heart. I can only imagine how much he adored them and them him. He is a bright and shining light for these children, and he motivates his fans to want to help as much as they can as well.

I must admit that if I wasn't a fan of Clay's I probably wouldn't be giving to UNICEF because it would not even be on my mind to give to them. But that fact that he has become an ambassador and brought these needs to the fans' attention has motivated us to give as much as we can to make a difference. We do it for the children and for Clay. I, for one, want to support Clay in his endeavors, which are all worthy of support. When I see these beautiful children in in the pictures taken in Afghanistan and realize how much needs to be done for them and how much they want to learn, it makes me glad that I've been given the opportunity to know of this need and reach out. Thank you, UNICEF, for choosing Clay to be an ambassador to the children you are helping. Because of your choice, many many fans who otherwise wouldn't know a thing about this are reaching out to bring love and hope to so many. Its an opportunity and a blessing for us all to do this.

I am proud to support Clay Aiken and his work with UNICEF.

I am so impressed by the work and the manner in which Clay Aiken represents Unicef as one of their Ambassadors.....You can tell he does his homework and you can feel his heart..He speaks so eloquently about his passion for his work as as a part of the Unicef family!

Clay is an amazing and incredible man..and its wonderful to see how he and Unicef are working to make a difference in the lives of the children in Afghanistan....My heart is overflowing with such admiration for him...

May God continue to bless Unicef and Clay Aiken....he truly is an "Idol who gives back"

Carolyn Beezley

I feel great respect for Clay Aiken. He is an inspiration.
When Clay asks for support for a cause, I am proud to respond.

What a Wonderful Ambassador Unicef has in Clay Aiken. I have such Respect and Admiration for this man. It has always been so important to him to help children in need. Now that he has made the trip to Afganistan and seen the need of the children there, his return with an appeal for help has been heard loud and clear! From the bottom of my heart I hope his goal is met. I also hope people will continue to support Unicef in the future, to assure these children the opportunity to learn and flourish, to make their lives easier. Clay Aiken is such an inspiration to that end. Thank You for the pictures and for allowing this man to do what he Loves! It has been an honor to make a donation because of Mr.Aiken.

I just wanted to say that Clay Aiken is an amazing man. I am proud to be a Clay fan because he is the true example of an "American Idol". He is touching many lives with his UNICEF work and his fans are thrilled to donate money to something Clay feels so strongly about.

I am so excited to think of these children receiving the school items they need. Just think of the young minds that can now grow and inspire the world as they do. Thank you Clay and Unicef. Proud to be a Clayfan as always!

How can I ever thank you enough for having the insight to ask Clay Aiken to be your Ambassador for Education? When Clay's singing career took off he had moments when he felt his heart was not whole...he had left the classroom behind. You have given him such a wonderful opportunity to have the WORLD as his classroom...and it seems he has embraced that fully!!

As his fan, I have also become his student, of sorts, and each trip for UNICEF has enlightened me to situations and needs I did not know existed. I am now embracing the opportunity to make a difference, one child at a time.

It has been a great honor to support UNICEF and its' goals and I will always be very vocal in encouraging others to see the need and do the same!!!

Clay has made his fans so proud with his humanitarian works with UNICEF. It is easy to tell he goes on these field trips with his whole heart and soul and truly wants to make a difference for children in distress. As an educator he is a perfect Ambassador for Education. I hope that through this challenge and our contributions we are able to help these Afgan children receive the tools they need to learn. Clay inspires his fans with his passion and total commitment.

I can't think of a better man to be representing the children of Afghanistan than Clay Aiken. He uses his voice in so many wonderful ways. As a singer, he entertains us and brings us great joy. As a UNICEF Ambassador and educator, he inspires us to reach deep into our hearts and give to the children.

Clay Aiken proves that all it takes is ONE VOICE.

Thanks to UNICEF and Clay Aiken for the inspiring and informative blog about the daunting challenges the people of Afghanistan are facing, and in the midst of poverty and upheaval,their courage, hospitality and thirst for learning.

It is a privilege to be able to publicize this need and the ongoing work of UNICEF on our own blogs and e-mail lists and to donate as much as we are personally able - to show we care and to thank UNICEF and Clay Aiken for risking so much to help and serve,not only in Afghanistan, but all over the world, where children are in need.

Clay gave a gift to his fans when he recommended we read the Kite Runner.

I devoured the book and was left feeling a strong connection with a country I have never seen.

The chance to be a part of the story was actualized when Clay made his $100,000 appeal.

I was more than happy to help.

For Clay Aiken, a thousand times over...

What a very insightful and hopeful blog! Clay Aiken is a wonderful ambassador and representive for Unicef. He is doing so much to bring awareness of the needs of children and all Unicef is doing to meet them. The pictures also tell an amazing story of the heart of Clay and of Unicef. I have learned so much of parts of the world and the plight of its people that have not known before. Thank you Unicef and Clay for making the difference!

I have been a supporter of UNICEF since I was in grade school back in my country. The nuns at my school has instilled in me the importance of helping children all over the world. I remember bringing money to school and each class would have a piggy bank of some sort to put our money into and we would have a contest. The whole school participated. The class with the most money saved in the piggy bank would win. Of course, everybody won something. It was fun and at the same time it taught us how to appreciate what we have.
To UNICEF, you were right on the money when you chose Clay Aiken to be one of your UNICEF Ambassadors. He truly is a noble man considering his young age. Good luck to UNICEF!And to Clay, your fans are the most giving and supportive group of people I have ever encountered. You are very lucky to have them in your corner. I am glad to be a part of it.

Clay Aiken has opened our eyes to the outside world and the plight of the children for survival and knowledges. He is an amazing singer and an extraordianary person.