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

In a one-of-a-kind television event this Sunday, July 6, CNN will examine why 26,000 children die every day from preventable causes and what UNICEF is doing to save these young lives. Hosted by CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, "The Survival Project: One Child at a Time" will air at 8 and 11 pm (ET).

This historic broadcast will highlight four areas where UNICEF demonstrates its remarkable on-the-ground expertise in doing whatever it takes to save a child:

• Child protection in Iraq
• Water and sanitation in Laos
• HIV/AIDS in Peru
• Child survival interventions in Ethiopia

Leading experts in each of these key areas will contribute to a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Gupta.

"The Survival Project: One Child at a Time" is a chance to get a first-hand look at the plight of millions of children around the world, struggling each and every day for survival. We hope you'll tune in.

	© UNICEF/HQ02-0580/Jim Holmes
	LAOS: A boy bathes with water collected at a handpump, in the remote northwestern province of Luang Namtha. The handpump, installed at a health center, is now also being used by the community.

We're all getting excited about the upcoming CNN program, The Survival Project: One Child at a Time, which will really shine a light on the child survival issues we care about so much. The show will include four documentary-type segments that look at UNICEF programs in four different countries: Iraq, Peru, Ethiopia and Laos. Since I don't know that much about Laos—officially known as the Lao People's Democratic Republic—I thought I'd do a little research and pass it along to you.

My research project was made infinitely easier when I learned that Amy Delneuville, a UNICEF Child Protection Officer based in Laos, would be stopping by our offices to give a talk about the country and UNICEF's programs there. Child protection is one of UNICEF's major focuses in Laos, as are water, sanitation, nutrition and education (among others).

	© Adam Fifield
	The 2008 U.S. Fund for UNICEF Annual Meeting

Hundreds of UNICEF supporters—including donors, volunteers, corporate partners, NGO representatives and UNICEF staff—came to Atlanta, GA this week for the U.S. Fund’s annual meeting.

The rousing session inside the city’s Woodruff Arts Center on Thursday, June 19 was punctuated by vigorous applause and standing ovations. The audience heard about the remarkable successes of the last year, including the announcement that for the first time ever, the number of children under age five dying each year had dropped below 10 million. But several speakers noted that 26,000 children are still dying every day from preventable causes.

In an appeal for continued vigilance on behalf of the world’s children, U.S. Fund President and CEO Caryl M. Stern told the crowd that she believed that number could be reduced to zero.

“I believe in zero.” Stern said. “Zero does not mean nothing. In this case, zero means everything.”

Zero, Stern said, means a commitment to keep fighting as long as any child is dying of a preventable cause.

Those fun, fashion-forward folks at Bravo TV have come up with a unique celebrity dress auction benefitting UNICEF. Right now, when you buy a dress at Bravo TV's online charity auction, you'll be helping UNICEF's relief efforts in Myanmar.

Imagine owning a dress that was worn by a celebrity on Bravo's "A-List Awards" show, which aired on June 12. The dresses were all designed by contestants on Bravo's hit show "Project Runway."

All proceeds from the auction will go to UNICEF's relief work in Myanmar. So you'll not only get a fashion original, you'll be helping save children's lives as well.

Go to http://bravo.auction.seenon.com to start bidding. But hurry! The auction ends on June 19.

In celebration of National Volunteer Week we’re not only celebrating our volunteers, we are showing the power that their actions can have!

Last year, UNICEF supporters contacted their congressional representatives more than 10,000 times on issues important to UNICEF. That’s why this week we are launching UNICEF's Unite for Child Survival: Advocacy Week. We hope you'll join us throughout the week to learn more about UNICEF's advocacy activities and take action to voice your support.

You can join in on the activities any time throughout the week. On day one, which is today, we suggest you register as a volunteer (if you haven’t done so already) and take our online training module called Advocating for UNICEF.

Once you take the training, let us know what you think of it; post a comment here with your thoughts.

Over 800 students and attendees gathered this weekend at the IMPACT Conference in Boston, and UNICEF was there.

The IMPACT conference website states, “The IMPACT Conference is historically the largest convening in the country of campus community members involved in service, activism, politics, advocacy, and other socially responsible work across philosophical and ideological lines. This event builds on the legacy set forth by the COOL Conference and the Idealist Campus Conference, spanning an incredible 20+ year history.”

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF has been a sponsor of previous conferences and was again a proud sponsor of this year’s conference. Our team reports that they met many enthusiastic and committed people, and they had a great time interacting with so many of our most active supporters (or they will be our most active supporters after meeting us)!

The UNICEF Campus Initiative has been supporting student led and run UNICEF Clubs since 1998, and now has nearly 70 campuses around the country actively fundraising, raising awareness about UNICEF’s work, and taking action. For more info on our Campus Initiative, visit unicefusa.org/campusinitiative.

Last week, Madonna and Gucci hosted a fundraising event here in New York to benefit UNICEF.

The evening, which was entirely paid for by Gucci, was dedicated to raising money and awareness for the millions of children orphaned or affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. 11 million children in sub-Saharan Africa have lost one or both parents to AIDS, and 2 million are currently living with HIV/AIDS.

The evening featured musical performances by the African Children’s Choir, as well as Timbaland, Rihanna, and Alicia Keys. UNICEF Ambassadors Téa Leoni and Lucy Liu were among the many guests who showed their support.

	©Jeff Connell, UNICEF, 2008
	Téa Leoni

	©Patrick McMullan
	Lucy Liu

And the best news? Almost $3 million dollars were raised for UNICEF, to support UNICEF's Schools for Africa program.

UNICEF thanks Gucci, and everyone who supported the event, for helping children in need!

©Jeff Connell, UNICEF, 2008
Members of the African Children’s Choir

Award winning drawings by children aged 7 through 15, from the International Environmental Children's Drawing Contest, will be shown in a free exhibition in the United Nations General Assembly Visitors' Lobby from August 8th through August 28th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. The entrance is at 1st Avenue and 45th Street. UNICEF volunteers will be on hand at all times to answer visitors' questions about the show and UNICEF issues.

The contest was established by the International Certification Network and the Japan Quality Assurance Organization, to encourage the world's children to think about the environment which surrounds their everyday life and how to protect it. The winning drawings are selected from over 14,000 submissions from children in over 60 countries. Besides covering all expenses, Japan Quality Assurance is making a generous contribution to UNICEF.

This exhibition is under the aegis of the United States Fund for UNICEF. For more information, phone Herb Frank at (212) 880 9130, or e-mail hfrank@unicefusa.org.

If you're in the tri-state area tonight, look up. In honor of UNICEF's 60th anniversary, the Empire State Building will be lit in blue. If you see it, please snap pictures and send them in to us! Visit the Empire State Building's official site to learn more about the colored lights displayed on the building.

New Yorkers, please also stop by the UNICEF Snowflake. Our Snowflake is a dazzling, illuminated crystal ornament found at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street in New York City. Check out the photos of the Snowflake people have been posting on Flickr.

At 9:25 a.m. tomorrow morning, representatives of UNICEF will ring the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange.

We're ringing the bell as a part of our celebration of UNICEF's 60th anniversary.