UNICEF facts for kids

Quick facts for kids United Nations Children's Fund
Org type	Fund
Status	Active 11 December 1946; 78 years ago (1946-12-11) (as United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund)
Headquarters	New York City, New York, U.S.
Website	www.unicef.org

UNICEF (which stands for United Nations Children's Fund) is a special part of the United Nations. Its main job is to help children all over the world. UNICEF provides important aid like food, medicine, and education. It also helps kids and families grow and develop.

UNICEF is one of the most well-known groups helping people globally. It works in 192 countries and areas. UNICEF helps by giving vaccines and preventing diseases. It also provides treatment for children and mothers with HIV. The organization works to improve nutrition for kids and moms. It also helps with clean water and toilets, promotes education, and gives emergency help when disasters happen.

UNICEF started on December 11, 1946. It was first called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. It was created to help children and mothers who were affected by World War II. In 1950, UNICEF's work grew to help children and women for the long term. This was especially true in countries that were still developing. In 1953, it became a permanent part of the United Nations System. Its name changed to what it is today, but it kept the short name UNICEF.

UNICEF gets all its money from donations. These donations come from governments and private people. In 2023, UNICEF received $8.37 billion. Most of this, $5.45 billion, came from governments. A group of 36 members leads UNICEF. They set the rules, approve programs, and manage the money. These members are chosen by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. They usually serve for three years.

UNICEF's programs focus on helping children in their own communities. Most of its work happens in the field. It has 150 offices in different countries. It also has 34 "national committees" that work with local governments. Seven regional offices help the country offices. UNICEF's Supply Division, located in Copenhagen and New York City, provides over $3 billion in aid and services.

In 2018, UNICEF helped with the birth of 27 million babies. It gave vaccines to about 65.5 million children. It also helped 12 million children get an education. Four million children with severe malnutrition received treatment. UNICEF responded to 285 emergencies in 90 countries. UNICEF has won awards for its work. These include the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965. It also received the Indira Gandhi Prize in 1989 and the Princess of Asturias Award in 2006. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, UNICEF shared advice on healthy parenting.

How UNICEF Started

The Idea Behind UNICEF

Back in 1943, a health expert from Poland named Ludwik Rajchman had an idea. He thought there should be a health service for the future international organization. He even suggested a "health tax" for countries to pay.

After World War II, Rajchman suggested using leftover funds to feed children. This idea led to UNICEF being created on December 11, 1946. It was first called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. Rajchman chose Maurice Pate to lead the new agency. Pate was asked to create a fund to help children who were victims of the war. UNICEF started as a temporary group helping with food and clothes. By 1953, it became a permanent part of the UN. It then focused on general programs to help children everywhere.

How UNICEF is Managed

UNICEF-care tent in Sudan

UNICEF works through offices in different countries. These offices create special plans with the local governments. Their goal is to protect the rights of children and women. Regional offices help guide this work and offer support. The main management of UNICEF happens at its headquarters in New York City.

A group of 36 government representatives guides UNICEF's work. This group is called the executive board. They set the rules, approve programs, and manage money. Five officers, including a president, lead the board. These officers are chosen each year. The presidency rotates among different regions. Countries that are permanent members of the Security Council do not serve as officers.

The secretary of the executive board helps the board and UNICEF staff work well together. They also arrange visits for board members to see the work in the field.

UNICEF Regional Offices Around the World

UNICEF has regional offices in these places:

• The Americas and Caribbean Regional Office, Panama City, Panama
• Europe and Central Asia Regional Office, Geneva, Switzerland
• East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office, Bangkok, Thailand
• Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya
• Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, Amman, Jordan
• South Asia, Kathmandu, Nepal
• West and Central Africa Regional Office, Senegal

UNICEF National Committees

There are 34 national committees for UNICEF. Each one is a separate local group. Their main job is to raise money from people and companies. This is because UNICEF relies completely on donations. These committees bring in about one-third of UNICEF's yearly income. This includes money from companies, other groups, and about six million individual donors worldwide.

How UNICEF Raises Money and Spreads Awareness

In the United States, Nepal, and other countries, UNICEF is known for its "Trick-Or-Treat for UNICEF" program. Children collect money for UNICEF when they go trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Sometimes they do this instead of getting candy. This program stopped in Canada in 2006.

UNICEF works in 191 countries and territories. However, it is not involved in nine others. These include Bahamas, Brunei, Cyprus, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Singapore, and Taiwan.

Many people in richer countries first learn about UNICEF through its national committees. These groups are mainly responsible for raising money. They also sell UNICEF greeting cards and products. They create partnerships and speak up for children's rights. The US Fund for UNICEF is the oldest committee, started in 1946.

In 2009, a British store called Tesco used "Change for Good" in its ads. This phrase is a trademark of UNICEF for charity use. UNICEF said it was the first time a company tried to use one of its campaigns for profit. This could hurt the money UNICEF uses for its programs. They asked people to think carefully about who they support when they shop. The "Change for Good" program is also supported by the Australian airline Qantas. Passengers donate coins in envelopes. Since 1991, this has raised over $36 million.

Sports and Entertainment Partnerships

Lionel Messi wearing the FC Barcelona Jersey with UNICEF sponsorship

In 2006, the Spanish football club FC Barcelona made a deal with UNICEF. The club agreed to donate €1.5 million each year for five years. As part of the deal, FC Barcelona wore the UNICEF logo on the front of their jerseys. This was the first time a football club sponsored a charity instead of being sponsored by a company. It was also the first time FC Barcelona had another organization's name on their uniform. In 2016, they signed a new deal, giving UNICEF £1.58 million per year and free advertising.

In 2007, UNICEF partnered with Canada's national tent pegging team. The team was renamed "UNICEF Team Canada." Its riders wear UNICEF's logo and help raise money for UNICEF's fight against childhood HIV-AIDS. Other football clubs like Hammarby IF in Sweden and Brøndby IF in Denmark also partnered with UNICEF.

In 2007, NASCAR driver Jacques Villeneuve sometimes put the UNICEF logo on his #27 truck. Australian football club Sydney FC also partnered with UNICEF to raise money for children in the Asia Pacific region.

In Botswana, UNICEF helped fund new HIV/AIDS education for schoolchildren. This was done through a group called TeachAids. UNICEF also partnered with the Scottish club Rangers F.C. and pledged to raise £300,000 by 2011.

In 2010, UNICEF partnered with Phi Iota Alpha, a Greek letter organization. This was the first time UNICEF worked with such a group. In 2011, Phi Iota Alpha raised over $20,000 for UNICEF campaigns. In 2013, the Greek football champions Olympiacos F.C. also agreed to show the UNICEF logo on their shirts.

UNICEF Kid Power

Started in 2015, Kid Power is a part of UNICEF that helps kids help other kids. UNICEF Kid Power created "Wearable for Good" devices. These are fitness tracker bracelets for kids called Kid Power Bands. They connect to a phone app. The app lets users complete missions by counting their steps. The points they earn unlock money from partners. UNICEF then uses this money to buy special food packets for severely malnourished children around the world.

Trick-or-Treat UNICEF Box

Since 1950, the Trick-or-Treat UNICEF box has been a tradition in North America. It started when children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, donated $17 they got on Halloween to help war victims. These small orange boxes are given to children before October 31. As of 2012, the campaign has collected about C$91 million in Canada and over US$167 million in the U.S.

Cartoons for Children's Rights

Cartoons for Children's Rights is a collection of animated short films. These films are based on UNICEF's Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 1994, UNICEF asked animation studios worldwide to create short cartoons. These cartoons would show the international rights that children have.

Working with Companies

UNICEF works with companies around the world to raise money. This money supports its education and literacy programs. Both large international companies and smaller businesses help.

Since 2004, the company Montblanc has supported UNICEF. They work together to help children worldwide get better access to education.

In 2013, Merck & Co. partnered with UNICEF. Their goal was to reduce deaths of mothers and the spread of HIV and tuberculosis in South Africa. Merck's "Merck for Mothers" program will give US$500 million globally. This money will go to programs that improve health for pregnant mothers and their children.

In 2010, Crucell announced that UNICEF awarded them an extra US$110 million. This was to supply their pentavalent vaccine, Quinvaxem, to developing countries.

Companies Helping Society

UNICEF works directly with companies to help them improve their business practices. This makes sure they follow international laws and respect children's rights. This includes how they operate in the market, workplace, and community. In 2012, UNICEF helped create the Children's Rights and Business Principles. These guidelines now help UNICEF advise companies. UNICEF guides companies through a process to check their supply chains. They look for issues like child labour and help put actions in place to fix them.

UNICEF has quickly helped with the growing needs in the State of Palestine. In 2023, UNICEF needed US$23.8 million for important services there. They had received 38 percent of that amount.

Girl Star Project

The Girl Star project is a series of films. It tells the stories of girls from very poor communities in India. These girls used education to overcome difficulties and become successful. They became role models in their communities. They inspire younger girls to go to school and continue learning. These young women have chosen many different jobs. Some are teachers or nurses. Others have gone into less common fields like archery or bee-keeping.

Kids United Music Group

Kids United is a French music group of children. It was created to support UNICEF campaigns. The group has released several successful albums. They sing songs that promote a better world and happiness. The group is very popular in French-speaking countries.

U-report Tool

U-Report is a free text message tool. It helps communities share information and get real-time updates. It is designed to help communities develop and make positive changes. Text message polls and alerts are sent to U-reporters. Their responses are collected in real time. The results and ideas are then shared back with the community. Topics include health, education, water, and youth unemployment. This program is now active in 68 countries and reaches over 11 million people.

Rugby League World Cup 2021 Partnership

On June 19, 2019, the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England announced a partnership. UNICEF became the official charity for the tournament. This partnership aims to use the power of sport to raise awareness and money for UNICEF's work. They want to protect children in danger around the world.

There will be a special "UNICEF" game during the Men's World Cup. This will help promote the charity.

Celebrity Ambassadors

UNICEF Ambassadors are famous people from entertainment and sports. They help raise awareness about what children need. They use their talent and fame to raise money, speak up, and teach people about UNICEF's work.

UNICEF Facilities

One of the gates to the old UNICEF World Warehouse UNICEF School in a box contains basic educational items for one teacher and 40 students. The UNICEF research centre at the Ospedale degli Innocenti in Florence

UNICEF World Warehouse

The UNICEF World Warehouse is a very large building in Denmark. It stores goods that UNICEF delivers. It also stores emergency supplies for other UN groups like UNHCR and the Red Cross. Until 2012, the warehouse was 25,000 square meters in Copenhagen. Now, it has moved to a new, larger location. This new location is part of a "UN City" that will house all UN activities in Copenhagen. The warehouse is home to the UNICEF Supply Division. This division manages important centers in Dubai, Douala, and Colón.

The warehouse holds many different items. These include food supplements, water purification tablets, and vitamins. It also stores the "School in a box" kits, which you can see in the picture.

UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre

The UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre started in 1988. It is located in a historic building in Florence, Italy.

This center was created to make UNICEF's research stronger. It also helps UNICEF speak up for children worldwide. It is the research part of UNICEF. Its main goals are to help people understand children's rights better. It also promotes economic plans that help children. The center works to make sure the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is fully followed in 190 countries.

The UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre plans its research with other parts of UNICEF and outside groups. It focuses on important questions and new issues related to children's rights. This includes both developing and developed countries. The center works with experts and policy makers. It aims to share knowledge and support UNICEF's work.

Discussions and Challenges

Adoption Program Views

UNICEF believes that orphanages should only be used for children temporarily. This is only when there are no other options. UNICEF has always preferred that children stay with their families or communities if possible. Because of this, UNICEF has been careful about international adoptions. They prefer children to be cared for in their home countries rather than adopted by foreign parents.

A 2013 article in U.S. News & World Report said that UNICEF's actions, like giving large payments to developing countries, could stop international adoptions. This would happen until all of UNICEF's suggestions are in place. The article even called UNICEF a "villain" for its negative impact on orphans.

UK Food Charities Funding

In December 2020, UNICEF provided money to feed children in the UK for the first time. This was part of its Food Power for Generation COVID plan. UNICEF gave £25,000 to a charity in London called School Food Matters. This money helped feed children during the Christmas holidays. Another group of charities in Devon also received £24,000 to help feed 120 families during the winter of 2020.

UNICEF said it was helping children in the UK because more families were struggling to afford food. This was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. UNICEF estimated that children were going hungry in one-fifth of UK households. Anna Kettley from UNICEF said, "We are one of the richest countries in the world and we should not have to be relying on food banks or food aid."

Some politicians had different views. A Labour MP, Zarah Sultana, said it was "astonishing" that UNICEF had to feed working-class kids in the UK. But a Conservative MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said UNICEF was "playing politics." He felt UNICEF should focus on the poorest countries where people are starving. He called it a "political stunt." Chris Forster, from one of the charities that received donations, said families were "literally in tears with gratitude" because their cupboards were empty.

See also

In Spanish: Unicef para niños

Links

• Official UNICEF website: http://www.unicef.org/
• UNICEF 2018 Annual Report, downloadable in several languages
• United Nations Rule of Law: The United Nations Children's Fund, on the rule of law work conducted by the United Nations Children Fund.
• (EN) UNICEF, Office of Research-Innocenti, Florence
• [[Category:Nobel Prize in {{{1}}} winners]] including the Nobel Lecture, 11 December 1965, UNICEF: Achievement and Challenge