Friday, December 11, 2015

Feel Good Friday - UNICEF

It's Feel Good Friday and time for a quiz!

Q: What do Susan Sarandon, Jackie Chan, Angelique Kidjo, David Beckham and Shakira have in common?
A: They're all UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors.

Q: Why am I talking about UNICEF at this time of year?
A: Find out at the end of this post!

Q: What is UNICEF anyway?
A: The United Nations Children's Fund (originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, hence the acronym.)

Created in 1946 by the United Nations to provide food, clothing and health care to European children facing famine and disease after World War II, "UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential - to the benefit of a better world."

Children around the world are disproportionally affected by poverty, war and instability. Statistics from the UNICEF website state that "16,000 die every day mostly from preventable or treatable causes" and "every 10 minutes, somewhere in the world, an adolescent girls dies as the result of violence."

For almost 70 years UNICEF has been "working globally for the rights of every child. Child rights begin with safe shelter, nutrition, protection from disaster and conflict and traverse the life cycle: pre-natal care for healthy births, clean water and sanitation, health care and education." You can learn about specific programs on the what we do page and read a summary of their story here.

UNICEF works in 192 countries and this year will be "providing a package of assistance for 2.6 million Syrian children inside Syria and across the region." You can learn more by watching some of their YouTube videos, liking their Facebook page and following them on Twitter @UNICEF.

Yes, yes, this all sounds good but it's the holiday season and you've got cards to send and presents to buy. Guess what? You can support the work of UNCIEF by buying cards and gifts for all occasions at this link. As they say, "Every gift you purchase helps saves children's lives". I call that a Feel Good Friday and holiday win-win!

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