This photo essay depicts a cruel side of childhood — but it is important to remember that UNICEF’s mission is so much more serious than simply bringing a smile to a child’s face. We hope that these images help you, our supporters, see the human face behind our firm belief in ZERO. In everything UNICEF does, the most vulnerable children and countries in greatest need are to be given the highest priority. By focusing on equity – aiding ‘without discrimination because of race, creed, nationality, status or political belief’ – we can and will reach a day when no child dies of a cause we know how to prevent.

If you are a regular reader of FieldNotes, you’ve heard about the K.I.N.D. Fund for Kids In Need of Desks in Malawi.

Our partner in this campaign, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, reported the amazing response we have gotten in just one year on air last week. And reminded us of the magnitude of the need.
Watch the MSNBC segment.

K.I.N.D (Kids in Need of Desks) has been an astounding success. 24 hours after MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell asked his viewers to donate $24 dollars to pick a student in Africa up off the floor, the K.I.N.D Fund had raised more than $280,000 dollars. One week later, we had raised almost $1 million.

When UNICEF USA agreed to take part in One Day on Earth – the 24 hour event taking place worldwide on 11/11/11 – it seemed like a great opportunity to advocate for children to be front and center in this moving picture of the earth in one day. But then, as I began to review the videos and images sent in for last year’s event on 10/10/10, I realized that children are by nature front and center on the earth on any given day.

Announcing the first-ever Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Costume Party, where you can join the 2011 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Ambassador Heidi Klum (as well as me and my son) in donning digital designs that also support UNICEF and kids around the world.

Great news! The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is proud to report that our joint campaign with MSNBC has reached it’s first goal. The Kids in Need of Desks Fund has raised $2.3 million in its first 6 months — enough to furnish all 172 schools in our 4-district target.

Imagine a secret wedding, held in the dead of night, with ample ritual and heavily embroidered gowns. Sounds romantic? It’s not. Somewhere in the world, a young girl is being married off in an illegal transaction. She may be 13 and a minor or she may be 5–a child. Either way, she is being deprived of her rights and corralled on a path to poverty, poor health and little prospect.

UNICEF responds to more than 200 emergencies every year. But it is rare for so many of them to be prominently featured on the front page news at once.

I may be at the head of digital innovation and communication here at unicefusa.org, but I still believe that some of the finest social practices have a little age on them. Case in point: Today we celebrate 100 years of International Women’s Day. Happy March 8, fellow women.

This is a photo of Ahmed. He’s a two-year old Egyptian boy who was among those lucky enough to get a ride, along with his family, across the border into Tunisia…and one step closer to home.