Did you know that mobile technology can actually help save children’s lives? I certainly didn’t. But when put to use in the field, especially in remote areas where healthcare may be far away and where information is often difficult to access, a mobile phone can make a life-or-death difference. Mobile phones help span the distance between people who need help and those who can help them, and mobile technology lets data be analyzed quickly, so that children and mothers who need treatment can get it right away.

Last week I had the honor of speaking at an event called Wake Up! for Human Rights. At this event, each panelist spoke about their organization’s mission, goals and role in fighting for human rights. The audience heard incredible speakers from Ground Up Global, Pencils of Promise, Malaria No More, and finally myself representing the End Trafficking project at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. I spoke with pride about UNICEF’s holistic and sustainable approach to addressing systems and social norms in the realm of child protection. But what the audience doesn’t usually hear is that they can do something to change their everyday actions—that they can change the way they speak, and challenge the way that their friends act.

The AIDS pandemic is one that was born and reached its peak in our lifetime—many still remember when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control first recognized the disease in 1981. Since then, it has caused the deaths of more than 46 million individuals. Today, through the work of UNICEF and its partners, we have an unprecedented opportunity to wipe the disease from this planet by virtually eliminating all new HIV infections among children within the next three years. How can we accomplish this? It starts by believing in zero.

UNICEF Global Citizenship Fellows work to cultivate an American constituency whose empathy will stretch across the world and who care about international hardship as their own. The Global Citizenship Fellowship deploys eight fellows to eight regions in the U.S. to support a grassroots movement of community members who are passionate about UNICEF’s lifesaving work. As part of our fellowship, we work closely with high school and college UNICEF clubs to mobilize young people around issues affecting child survival and development. One particularly active and passionate young man, Winston Lee, is the president and founder of Valencia High School’s UNICEF Club.

Last month, Seija Toro, the UNICEF Representative in Costa Rica, visited the U.S. Fund in New York to share with us what UNICEF is doing to narrow these incredible disparities so that all children have a fair shot at a healthy and productive life. One particular program—“Growing with Music”— literally has everyone listening. Growing with Music is a music education program supported by UNICEF that seeks to promote early childhood development and improve school readiness and life skills for children.

Every day 1,000 children are newly infected with HIV, and every year thousands of children under five die from this preventable illness. UNICEF is working to achieve an AIDS-free generation by 2015—taking one more step toward reaching our goal of zero children dying from preventable causes. It is a big task, but with the cooperation of governments, NGOs, health clinics, and supporters like you, we can help every child reach their fifth birthday. Here are some of the most effective ways that UNICEF is using to help keep children safe from HIV/AIDS.