U.S. Fund for UNICEF

Awarding heroes to help more children. Our Awards recognize real-life heroes working to dramatically improve the lives of children. But that's not all: our Honorees also receive grant funds and media attention, both of which help their gold standard programs grow so that they will ultimately impact the lives of even more children.

The Everyday Young Hero program highlights one outstanding youth a week that are making extraordinary contributions and commitments to service. Nominations must come from a parent, teacher, or other adult mentor; supporting material is recommended. The Everyday Young Hero award is open to those between the ages of 5-25.

GLOBECHANGERS is based on a simple TEN STEP PLAN designed to take young Americans 25 or under from ideation to implementation as quickly and comprehensively as possible. The TEN STEP PLAN is animated right here on our state-of-the- art website, with video explanations, document creation tools, and a mountain of examples to stimulate imagination and get results. As you move through the plan, from "Think Big" to "Communicate," you're not just accomplishing a project: you're gaining valuable leadership life skills, like successful communication and marketing, or fund raising. The tools and skills offered to our Globechangers are the same skills that Jefferson Awards founder Sam Beard developed over 50 years in public service working with seven different US Presidents. As Sam puts it, "If I can create and run a program for seven different Presidents of the United States, SO CAN YOU. And here's how - Step by Step."

In 1959 the ten principles which make up the Universal Rights of the Child were published. From the right to a name and a nationality and protection for handicapped children to the right of education and play, each of those principles is interpreted in a simple and colour illustrated text that can be understood by every child.

Curriculum from UNICEF UK. See photos and case studies on pages 22-33.

Do you know when this was published? Some of the information seems quite dated.

It was published in 2005, so I'm sure much of the content is outdated. I think the photos and case studies at the end may still be useful, though. Those stories highlight the causes of malnutrition (drought, poverty, polluted water, war, etc.) and the impact on children and families. All of that is still timely. So you could potentially adapt the stories to edit out any dated material and to be age-appropriate. Of course we would have to get permission from UNICEF UK, but it's a possibility if these case studies fit well into the unit.

Want to make a difference to the children in your life and the world? Here are 8 reasons why teaching children about child rights is vital.

How do teachers prepare their students to be citizens of the world? (see page 8) Article by Merry Merryfield Spring, 2013 Peace Corps Connect

These photos, taken in June 2011, show the Provide Clinic in the settlement of Korogochi, in Kenya. The clinic is a UNICEF-supported health centre providing care and treatment for local women and children. Living in Korogocho is tough. Over 200,000 people live within one square kilometre, squeezed in together with poor water and sanitation facilities. Households in Korogocho spend most of their incomes on staple foods. Because of rising food prices, families cope by reducing the size and frequency of their meals. As a result, severe malnutrition is a problem.

Humanity Against Hunger In the Humanity Against Hunger web module, students become volunteers to help solve the severe food shortage faced in Africa. Through the interactive experience, students learn how nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus deficiencies can stunt plant growth in multiple ways. They also learn that replenishing the land with fertilizer can help farmers achieve higher crop yields to feed more people.

The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) works to improve the health and well-being of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers. CNPP and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) are agencies of USDA's Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services.

Synopsis: 13 year old Nirmala is an orphan in Nepal who is taking care of her siblings and dreams of getting an education, but she is not able to both attend school and feed her family/keep them from hunger.

Page McBrier and Lori Lohstoeter, Beatrice's Goat (New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001). Age Level: 4 and up Publisher Description: More than anything, Beatrice longs to be a schoolgirl. But in her small African village, only children who can afford uniforms and books can go to school. Beatrice knows that with six children to care for, her family is much too poor. But then Beatrice receives a wonderful gift from some people far away -- a goat! Fat and sleek as a ripe mango, Mugisa (which means "luck") gives milk that Beatrice can sell. With Mugisa's help, it looks as if Beatrice's dream may come true after all. Page McBrier and Lori Lohstoeter beautifully recount this true story about how one child, given the right tools, is able to lift her family out of poverty. Thanks to Heifer Project International -- a charitable organization that donates livestock to poor communities around the world -- other families like Beatrice's will also have a chance to change their lives.

Global Action Week is an annual week of action that calls attention to the urgent need to invest in the future of the millions of out-of-school children around the world. Global Action Week activities take place in more than 100 countries as part of a coordinated effort by the Global Campaign for Education. Global Action Week 2013 in 2013 is April 20-26, and focuses on the importance of educators if we are to ensure a quality education for all. Over 200 million children under the age of 5 in low- and middle-income countries will not attain their development potential due to poverty, nutritional deficiencies, and inadequate care and learning opportunities.

NY Times photo essay from the book "Hungry Planet"; not a UNICEF resource, but these compelling photos - which depict what families in different parts of the world subsist on - could make for a fascinating activity in a lesson plan.

Some nice photos of what theraputic foods look like and UNICEF interventions.

CRC Article 24 Every child has the right to food and nutrition. Animated by Elphin Lloyd-Jones. Telemagination, England.

Micronutrient Day at Binh Thanh Trung health centre draws more than 700 children. This morning Thuy is screened for malnutrition and gets a Vitamin A dose that will protect her from illnesses such as diarrhea and measles.

Published on Jun 22, 2012 In Mauritania, as elsewhere in the Sahel, drought has led to terrible food shortages and malnutrition is threatening the lives of thousands of children. Luckily, mothers can bring their children to UNICEF-supported treatment centers. Deida is typical of the mothers who arrive. "All of the families are suffering, " she says. " Her son, Ahmed Salim, is almost a year old, but weighs just 11 pounds. Rougui's two-year-old son, Idy, regained his health after treatment at the center, but the family's struggle to survive continues. UNICEF is providing micronutrient-enriched food and milk and is ahelping health-care workers keep track of children's development. But as long as the crisis continues, families will continue to need help.