When violent events occur, such as the recent shooting of 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai, it’s natural to want to protect children from the terrifying details as they unfold in the media. Yet in an age of pervasive communications technology, it is impossible to shield children—especially once they reach school age—from unpleasant world events. There are ways, however, that we as educators and family members can help youth to cope with and make sense of tragedy in the world around them. Here are some suggestions.

On October 18, H&M will launch a special collection of children’s clothes, books and toys to benefit UNICEF. H&M is donating 25% of the sales price of each All for Children Collection item sold to support UNICEF’s projects in Bangladesh, which promote children’s rights to education and protection.
In celebration of the launch, H&M invites you to an afternoon of fun for the whole family at three of their store locations: New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

This month, the IKEA Foundation and UNICEF are celebrating over ten years of working together to improve the lives of more than 74 million children and their families in India. In collaboration with the government of India, the IKEA Foundation and UNICEF India have contributed to major improvements in the lives of children over the past decade.

It’s back-to-school time, and many parents are busy buying school supplies, backpacks and new clothes. But sadly, not all parents can afford to buy pen and paper for their children, or even send them to school. In post-quake Haiti, rebuilding education is a major priority, and UNICEF is working closely with the government to get children back to school. Supplies like school-in-a-box kits, notebooks, pens and pencils are essential tools in supporting children’s learning. Three children and their school director at a UNICEF-supported school in Port-au-Prince share their story.

In Argentina, the annual event “Un Sol Para los Chicos” is a highly recognized telethon benefiting UNICEF programs in the country. Held every August during “El Dia de los Niños,” the national day dedicated to children, the event is broadcast nationally in conjunction with the El Trece network. The recent record-breaking event raised an astounding AR$14,309,929. The festivities included performances and appearances by well-known celebrities and special guests, in addition to live games and raffles.

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a discussion with UNICEF Uganda Deputy Representative, May Anyabolu. Anyabolu gave a passionate presentation about Uganda’s history of conflict, the realities of everyday life, and UNICEF’s various programs and initiatives.
Among many other initiatives, UNICEF and partners have created programs to reduce school drop-out rates, reach children in Uganda’s most isolated areas, and establish youth networking organizations. In addition, the installation of ‘Digital Drums’—rugged computers made from locally available oil drums—have served as a way to promote sustainability and make youth friendly content, along with games and reading materials, accessible to young people. Through mTrac, a nationwide SMS-based disease and medicine tracking system, community health workers as well as everyday citizens can text to a hotline to report theft, corruption and shortages.