Warwick UNICEF On Campus

Affiliate of UNICEF UK, and the biggest UNICEF campus society in the United Kingdom. Based in the University of Warwick

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#1Child1Future

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We all know that feeling after a long week. Baby Maseo has just been weighed, measured and vaccinated at a Unicef-supported vaccination centre in Kalumba Kiashi, Angola. Angola is one of 8 countries with the lowest rates of immunisation. Unicef is working to ensure that 100% of children like Maseo receive life-saving immunisations. #angola #unicef #children #immunisation #baby #mother #cute #sweet #sleepy #instadaily #photooftheday UNICEF/PFPG2014P-0092/Clark

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#ShowYourLove for adolescents facing discrimination associated with HIV

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HIV and positive awareness

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Imagine UNICEF(World Version)

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Building an AIDS free world

World Aids day is celebrated every year on 1 December. It is a day to remind people of this deadly disease, spread awareness and fight the prejudices associated with it. UNICEF has been working relentlessly in 190 countries to reverse the spread of this pandemic. Its efforts are primarily divided across first and second decades of life.  

 First Decade of Life

One of the primary reasons for increase in the number of AIDS related cases is due to transmission of HIV virus to new born infants through breast-feeding. What’s disturbing is that most HIV infected mothers don’t know that they can prevent the transmission of the HIV virus. In addition to this, there is lack of health care facilities, life saving drugs and personnel that worsens the situation. PMTCT (prevention of mother-to- child transmission of HIV) is an intervention that provides essential drugs, counseling and psychological support to help mothers safeguard their children against this deadly virus. UNICEF reaches out to HIV infected women around the globe and provides them with access to antiretroviral treatment. This treatment not only protects the mother but also prevents transmission to her child According to the statistics by UNICEF, 62% of the HIV infected women have received antiretroviral drugs. This is a positive step towards the creating an AIDS free World.

Second Decade of Life

 As per UNICEF, lack of access to testing, treatment, and counseling has contributed to the rise in AIDS related deaths among adolescents. In 2012, 2.1 million people aged 10-19 were living with HIV.  These adolescents also face a multitude of barriers that limits their access to HIV prevention, treatment and care. UNICEF works with governments, Non-profit and youth organizations to both prevent and protect adolescents from the HIV virus. It encourages mass movements and campaigns aimed towards reducing the transmission of HIV among adolescents as well as eliminating the social stigmas associated with it. At the same time it also provides framework for governments and voluntary organizations to encourage the use of condoms, provide proper treatment, social protection and care to HIV infected patients. To add on, UNICEF also focuses on empowerment of adolescents by addressing issues of violence and vulnerability.

  At the micro level UNICEF has also collaborated with universities to augment their efforts in spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS.

 Warwick UNICEF on campus; through its project the Warwick World AIDS Awareness Project (WWAAP), has taken significant steps in spreading awareness among the youth. The main objective of the project is to spread awareness related to the main contemporary issues surrounding HIV/AIDS in the region and globally. Issues include; stigmatization, possible treatment, prevention and awareness on sexual health.

The project had events beginning from 20th November that concluded on 1st December- World AIDS Awareness Day. This year the WWAAP began with LINE’S fashion show, followed by a night out at Leamington Spa’s Altoria, done in collaboration with the Economics society. As part of the ‘Talks Day’, which focuses on having conferences headed by an international panel; a conference was held with speakers from Europe. The speakers of this year’s panel included, Dr. Jonathan Cave, senior research fellow at the University of Warwick Economics Department, Mick Matthews, Former consultant at the Global Fund, Geneva, Dr. Kweuku Ackom, health advisor and focal person for issues related to HIV/AIDS at the International Medical Corps, London and Jackie Redding, Service Director at the Terrence Higgins Trust. The talks covered topics ranging from- Socio-economic responses to HIV/AIDS and the prospect of using economic instruments to address its challenges, one life, and one battle: living with AIDS, Expanding CHP (Combination HIV Prevention), Interventions to female Sex Workers in Kenya and HIV in the UK – Immigration, treatment, testing and prevention.

The talks were followed by a discussion on the topic of ‘Rights for HIV positive people and can a change in behavior surpass medication’, with questions by the audience. A film screening of ‘Dallas Buyers’ Club’ was also held.

As part of Atrium day where information about AIDS is displayed; there were several performances by many societies. The event was done in collaboration with Warwick Amnesty, Warwick Pride, Economics Society and the Good Food Society.

It is important to sensitize people about HIV/AIDS and its treatment, provide community connectedness and create awareness; these serve as major factors in lessening the risk and develop healthy coping skills thus ensuring that people overcome the taboos associated with it. Thus, your involvement in the efforts of Warwick UNICEF on Campus will help take the endeavor of the WWAAP further.

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Photo of the Week: Boys attend school in Albania’s Tomin village in 2008. On November 20th the world celebrated the 25th anniversary of Convention on the Rights of the Child - the most widely ratified international human rights treaty in history - which ensures the realization of #EVERYchild’s right to education, amongst many other rights. The CRC calls for governments to make primary education compulsory and available free to all. Find out more: http://uni.cf/crc © UNICEF/NYHQ2008-0142/Pirozzi

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Many children are left without a father or a mother due to the political conflicts all over the world. Unicef made this stunning advertisement in 2006 to support Foster Care Project for Children with the slogan: “Every child needs a family”.

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Take a moment to ponder this GIF from the Council on Foreign Relations. Every dot represents an outbreak of preventable disease—and preventable suffering. This is why immunizations are so important for children and for their communities.  #Vaccineswork.

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Photo of the day: Fetching water is a daily chore in drought-stricken Niger, but Santou makes these heavy water buckets look weightless as she waters her garden. #potd #Niger

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Post by Warwick U.N.I.C.E.F. on Campus.

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Souraya Hassan, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Burundi

Tell us a bit about your background

I was born in a small town in Djibouti, near the border with Ethiopia. I was born into a family of 5: 4 girls and 1 boy. I was lucky to grow up in a family with caring parents who gave equal...

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Being part of the UNICEF family

Joining Warwick UNICEF on Campus was the best decision I have made during my time at university so far. I already knew a lot about UNICEF’s work and came to Warwick with the intention to join this society but it turned out to be so much more than I had imagined.

I was one of the two Freshers Representatives last year which was a remarkable experience as it gave me the opportunity to get more involved and work closely with the Exec and the Sub-Committee. As aFreshers Rep my main task was marketing the society’s events on campus among freshers. We were handing out flyers, doing kitchen runs, putting up posters on campus and had stalls in the SU Atrium at bigger events such as Charity Day. I was also involved in most projects last year including Mission24, the School’s Project and EntertAID. All the funds we raised were going towards the work UNICEF is undertaking in Syria and the Philippines for example and contributing to this is a very rewarding feeling. Being an active member of this society makes me feel like I am part of something bigger and that every little thing you do matters and can help.

I can only encourage everyone to join and be part of an amazing society which besides working for a good cause is also a strong community with awesome people. A great time is guaranteed whether it is sitting together at a weekly meeting working on the projects or eating out at a social. I made so many friends and invaluable experiences last year that I cannot wait for next year to start.

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UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Audrey Hepburn, during her visit to Muglad, Sudan, in 1989. The Muglad camp provided services to displaced people from the southern states fleeing the civil war. © UNICEF Photographs by Jeremy Hartley.

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The Schools Project through Rushda's perspective

Hi everyone, this is Rushda.

This year, I’ll be on the subcommittee working with the Schools Projects – my favourite project that I was involved in last year. Going to the first ever UNICEF social was more than nerve-wracking to say the least! As a huge global organisation, I was expecting something formal with a serious exec team. Turned out, the social was nothing like that. Right from the start, everyone was lovely and I went in knowing no one and came out with not only acquaintances but friends that I would grow incredibly close to over the year.

And right from that first evening, I knew I would love the Schools Project. I started talking to Annalisa, the former Schools Project exec, and she told me all about how the project would work. I found out that we would be going in to local schools and talking to the children about what UNICEF stands for and the wonderful things it does all over the world.

When the project got started, Annalisa and everyone involved picked three themes that we would focus on: childhood rights, nutrition and education. Education was the issues that meant the most to me personally. I was born in Bangladesh where going to school, a right, was instead a privilege. I had grown up seeing children start working on the streets the same time I was headed to school but I had also grown up with Meena. Meena was a UNICEF TV show in Bangla which showed a young village girl going to school and showed why it was important for both boys and girls to go to school and learn. I had always enjoyed going to school and had learned from the show why it was important – and also learned from a young age the great work UNICEF did to promote education. So when ‘education’ showed up as a topic we could do, I jumped to be on that team.

Once we had picked a theme we wanted to cover, the three teams put together presentations about what UNICEF’s work. We chose to talk about how UNICEF helped children go to school in less developed countries and focused on a little girl from Syria, Aya, who had had to leave her education when her family fled their home. You can listen to her story here [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpG3jLGGkvc]. We were also in charge of planning activities for the school children to do and we planned a game of Simon Says, a word search and a letter writing activity so the children could have fun and engage with what we told them as well as learn about UNICEF.

It was fun planning a good time with the children but nothing compared to actually going in to the school. Children are the focus of UNICEF and Schools Project is the only one that lets you directly engage with the people you are helping by being part of the organisation. There is always a fear that the children will get bored or not listen but every one of those doubts were gone when we saw how engaged the children were. Not only did they understand that they were lucky to be going to school, they listened to Aya’s story and got involved in the activities that made all the planning and hard work worthwhile. Seeing them having a great time was such a rewarding experience, one that I will never forget. I even got hugs and was amazed that they remembered my difficult name after it all!

I knew that I wanted to be even more involved with the Schools Project which is why I am going to help out as part of the subcommittee this year. I can’t wait to get back into it and am already looking forward to seeing the smiles on the children’s faces when we go visit them. I may be a little biased but if you’re looking for a project to be part of this year, make it Schools!

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The worst Ebola outbreak in history continues to ravage West Africa, tearing families apart and orphaning up to 10,000 children. We’re working to reunite children with their families and strengthen community support for children affected by the deadly disease. More photos here: http://uni.cf/1IUNWXj