Unicef

Life skills-based education builds young Somalis' self-confidence

NAIROBI, Kenya, 12 July 2010 – Muna Ali Hirsi, 24, is a vibrant and motivated life-skills mentor who works with young people aged 12 to 21 in north-west Somalia (Somaliland).

Universal blood tests hunt down the malaria parasite in Sabang district, Indonesia

SABANG, Indonesia, 13 July 2010 – Mohamed Safrina, 22, has never suffered from malaria, but he knows it's a dangerous illness. However, the labourer from Sabang, an island district off the north-west coast of Indonesia, is terrified of needles and a little apprehensive of the gloved nurse kneeling beside him.

Bamyan maternity waiting home: A safe place to give birth in Afghanistan

BAMYAN, Afghanistan, 12 July 2010 – "This place is needed in Bamyan like water in the desert," said Dr. Hamed Nazim, head of Bamyan Provincial Hospital. "In the past, not enough care was taken of mothers. This will change now."

FIFA World Cup 2010 champion Sergio Ramos of Spain inspires children in Senegal

DAKAR, Senegal, 20 July 2010 – Just days after becoming a champion as a member of the victorious Spanish national football team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Sergio Ramos chose to spend his time off the field visiting UNICEF projects in Senegal.

Ugandan delegates prepare to speak out on development at first African Youth Forum

KAMPALA,Uganda, 13 July 2010 – At first glance, it seems an ordinary day in the UNICEF country office here – until the cameras zoom in and reporters begin interviewing young people selected as the Ugandan delegates to the first-ever African Youth Forum, or AYF. The Forum will be held in Entebbe from 17 to 19 July.

Educating Haiti's children, six months on

NEW YORK, USA, 12 July 2010 – Today marks the six-month anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti, killing more than 220,000, displacing many more and severely affecting the education system.

African Youth Forum delegates set to deliver their call to action to AU Summit leaders in Uganda

MUNYONYO, Uganda, 23 July 2010 – Bonolo Cebe, 18,of South Africa is one of the three young delegates selected by their peers to present a call to action to leaders at the 15th session of the Assembly of African Union Summit this Sunday, 25 July. Over 100 young people from 40 countries drafted the message earlier this week in Uganda, at the first-ever African Youth Forum, or AYF.

Afghanistan reaffirms commitment to protecting child rights amidst conflict

KABUL, Afghanistan, 21 July 2010 – The Government of Afghanistan has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children affected by the ongoing conflict here through the establishment of a Steering Committee that will address and respond to grave violations against children.

Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow visits Ugandan children affected by conflict

GULU and KOTIDO, Uganda, 16 July 2010 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow has made a round of visits to Uganda communities this week, in advance of her participation in the first-ever African Youth Forum, which begins tomorrow in Entebbe.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Lionel 'Leo' Messi visits earthquake-ravaged Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, 16 July 2010 – For the people of Port-au-Prince, the last six months have been fraught with difficulties in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake that left their lives in shambles. But while the images out of Haiti still show displacement and poverty, they were replaced yesterday – at least for a few hours – by a sense of uncontainable excitement, as Haitians poured into the streets to greet UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Lionel 'Leo' Messi.

Panama launches national handwashing campaign to improve child health and hygiene

PANAMA CITY, Panama, 14 July 2010 – "Wash our hands, it´s time to wash our hands," sang a group of second graders at Los Andes II school in Panama City's San Miguelito district. While they chanted the popular tune, hundreds more children waved handmade banners for health officials who were present at their school to inaugurate a national handwashing campaign.

'Hermano' film director partners with UNICEF on violence prevention in Venezuela

NEW YORK, USA, 15 July 2010 – The UNICEF-supported film, 'Hermano' – which last month won the Grand Prix for Best Film at the International Film Festival in Moscow, as well as the audience and critics' prizes – will now be used to help spur conversations about violence prevention in Venezuela's poor urban communities.

Vaccination campaign conducted in response to resurgence of measles in Zambia

LUSAKA, Zambia, 26 July 2010 – In the Matero neighbourhood here in the Zambian capital last week, three-year-old Kaseko led her Aunt Sarah by the hand to the health clinic. Once there, they joined the long queue of mothers and crying babies.

In the wake of violence, home visits ensure social assistance for families in Kyrgyzstan

OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 23 July 2010 – From the outside, the walled compound of the Kozybaeva household looks relatively undamaged, raising hopes that unlike most of the neighbouring houses, this one might be intact. But just beyond the gate is the burnt-out shell of what used to be the family car. And beyond that are the ruins of what was once the family home.

'Letter to a friend' campaign promotes healthy pregnancies in Indonesia

Free primary education: A steeping stone towards a better future for children in Liberia

GANTA, Liberia, 15 July 2010 – At 6 a.m., Atleta Suomie is already hard at work sweeping the floor and arranging the merchandise in her family's small store. Atleta is a top mathematics student and this comes in handy through the morning's roaring trade. But come lunchtime, she hands the shop over to her stepmother, changes into her school uniform, collects her books and leaves the shop.

UNICEF statistics expert honoured for research on the needs of children affected by AIDS

VIENNA, Austria, 22 July 2010 – When UNICEF statistics expert Dr. Priscilla Akwara looked at the usual ways of assessing a child's vulnerability in the face of HIV and AIDS, what she saw wasn't true to her own experience. And so, collaborating with nine co-authors, she became a detective, combing through data to find out which factors can reliably be seen to make a child vulnerable.

UNICEF supports efforts to end sexual harassment of girls and women in Bangladesh

NARSINGDI, Bangladesh, 21 July 2010 – Hundreds of people, many of them adolescents, rallied in the streets of Narsingdi district recently to call for an end to 'Eve teasing' – a term used to describe the public bullying of girls and women by boys and men.

African Youth Forum issues call to action for leaders at Uganda summit

ENTEBBE, UGANDA, 20 July 2010 – A group of more than 100 young people from across Africa are ready to deliver a clear message to leaders of the countries in the African Union, who will be attending the 2010 AU Summit in Kampala, the Ugandan capital.

'Mother-Baby Pack' helps prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in Lesotho

LESOTHO, 19 July 2010 – Malekena George lives in arural area in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho. Four months ago, she set out on a trip to a distant clinic, determined to protect the health of her unborn child.