Jul31
Anyone who thinks back to their favorite childhood programs understands the importance of positive childhood entertainment role models that inform and educate communities. As a child, two of my favorite programs were Sesame Street and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. Now in my twenties, on early Saturday mornings I often find myself in front of the television watching Mr. Roger or humming the theme song as I put on my favorite sweater. The social and psychological impact of early childhood education programs last a lifetime.
One of UNICEF’s Communication for Development programs is the popular and extremely successful Meena Initiative, which aims to empower the most marginalized, and to prompt debate within homes, schools and community centers.
Feb25
We all know that being a teenager isn’t easy. But in the world’s most marginalized and impoverished communities, adolescence can be an extremely arduous and dangerous time. With enough resources and support, it can also be a time of great opportunity and transformation.
Around the globe, there are 1.2 billion adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19. Nearly nine out of ten live in the developing world. The unique needs of these children do not get as much attention as those of younger kids, according to UNICEF’s annual flagship report The State of the World’s Children, which was released today.
More children than ever before are living past their fifth birthday, thanks to the efforts of UNICEF and its partners. The new report asks: what happens when those children turn 10, 12, 15?
While not as susceptible to disease and malnutrition as younger children, adolescents may in some ways be even more vulnerable — particularly when it comes to violence and exploitation.
Jan27
Imagine the life of a 6-year old girl, far from home, forced to spend all day ducking between cars on busy streets and beg drivers for change. Think of what life must be like for a 12-year-old boy who works long hours every single day in a gold mine. Picture an 8-year-old girl, forced into prostitution.
These are often the fates of children who have been trafficked. Child trafficking can take many forms, but it is, in essence, a modern day slave trade.
May10
Elizabeth Kiem is the online producer for unicefusa.org.
A new U.N. report presents good news and bad news on the subject of child labor.
A survey of conditions in 50 different countries published by the International Labor Organization found that while the number of girls and children under the age of 15 who are compelled to work has fallen, the number of boys age 15-17 classed as laborers rose. Whether the result of economic hardship or something worse – trafficking or exploitation, these children’s situation will have a lasting impact on their health, happiness and well-being.
Mar17
Karen Turney, a development officer at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s Houston office, is visiting UNICEF programs in Panama with U.S. Fund donors.
This morning we flew to David, a city in Chiriqui province near Panama’s border with Costa Rica. It has the largest indigenous population in the country. The differences between Chiriqui and Panama City were clear the moment we landed. Gone were the skyscrapers, traffic jams and upscale shops. In their place, we found lush greenery, open markets and colorful traditional attire.
Our first stop was a coffee plantation in Boquete, a small town in the highlands of Chiriqui. Although picking season had just ended, we learned about the many families who migrate throughout the region to work. And because these families often move from plantation to plantation and are paid by the amount of coffee they pick, the children work too. Instead of going to school or playing soccer with friends, these children endure hours of backbreaking work in the hot sun. It’s no life for a child. Thankfully UNICEF and a partner NGO, Casa Esperanza (which means ‘House of Hope’ in Spanish), are working together to prevent and eradicate child labor.
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Oct04
Remaining pockets of violence, millions of Internally Displaced Peoples, massive human rights violations and a lack of basic social services severely hinder the efforts of Gill and other aid workers. “Humanitarian access is limited,” said Gill, “because there is virtually no infrastructurea wooden bicycle used to transfer goods to market is about as advanced as it gets.” Gill and her colleagues also face a constant security risk and must take daily precautions against attacks
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