NEWS: The One Minutes Jr. featured at GIFF in the USA

From the start, festival organizers said they didn't just want to show great movies. They also wanted to use the event to shed light on social issues. The festival partnered with UNICEF and showed short films from the organization's OneMinutesJr. program, in which children from around the world are able to make mini-films about their lives and circumstances.

A panel on social impact films is scheduled for Sunday at 11 a.m. in the Cole Auditorium.

"This is the most prestigious event of the festival," festival COO Ginger Stickel said of the gala. "Both Harry Belafonte and Mia Farrow have been tremendous humanitarians and they have both used film to serve the greater good. They've used their star power for the betterment of society."

Stickel pledged the Changemaker Gala would be a part of the film festival next year and in future years, a promise Stapleton Reyes was quick to echo.

"This is part of the heart of what we're trying to do at the Greenwich International Film Festival," she said.

UNICEF executives Casey Rotter and Barron Segar said they were thrilled with how the partnership with the festival had gone.

"We always want to figure out a way to partner with the entertainment industry because there's so much they can offer by telling people's stories and amplifying the voice we have for kids through our work," said Rotter, director and founder of UNICEF's Next Generation initiative. "It's been wonderful and it's so exciting to be celebrating Harry Belafonte and Mia Farrow tonight, two of our most dedicated UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors."

Segar, senior vice president of development for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, said he returned from Zambia two weeks ago and saw first-hand how the OneMinutesJr. project was having an effect; how kids were using the film equipment given them to document the impact of climate change on their lives.

"It's great to be able to harness the power of film to better the lives of children," he said. "Tonight gives us a great audience to get our message out and to get people thinking about children."

(...)

Source: http://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Harry-Belafonte-honored-at-Greenwich-film-festival-6311758.php

NEWS / TV: UNICEF co-sponsored TV documentary gives unique insights into the lives of child monks

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, 4 April 2015 - Today the Czech Television featured a documentary titled "The Little Monk", which was co-produced by the Czech Committee for UNICEF with the support of UNICEF Bhutan. The documentary presents the life-stories of three boys who were by various circumstances forced to enter a monastery. For centuries, monastic institutions in Bhutan have provided shelter to orphans and children from the poorest families and it is estimated that they currently cater for over 4,000 boys.

The situations that these little monks must cope with behind monastery walls are in many respects characteristic for the country. UNICEF's priority is to satisfy the basic needs of these children, i.e. provide safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and healthcare. In partnership with Bhutan's Office for the Management of Monasteries (Dratshang Lhengtshog), UNICEF strives to ensure that the child monks continue their education and are protected from violence, corporal punishments and all forms of abuse.

The documentary was filmed in October 2014 in the Kabesa, Punakha and Paro regions. 

"I am happy that after five years, we were able to follow up on the story of a boy called Jamtso, whose life was depicted in an earlier documentary Forgotten children. The viewers are able to see a complex image of life-stories and thus better understand the variety of reasons why young boys become monks. It is a unique opportunity not only to become a part of their lives even for a short while but also to make a difference by making a contribution to support UNICEF programs in Bhutan," says Pavla Gomba, Executive Director of the Czech National Committee for UNICEF.

The newly appointed Czech Goodwill Ambassador, the actress Jitka Cvancarova, also participated in the making of this documentary and presented a symbolic cheque for $117,000 to the representatives of UNICEF Bhutan. The money fundraised from Czech donors will be used to support UNICEF WASH and child protection programs in Bhutan.

Source: UNICEF

Info in Czech at UNICEF Czech Republic

NEWS / PROJECTS: Syrian Refugee Children Capturing and Sharing Their Lives with Disposable Cameras

The Syrian civil war has been raging for over four years now, and millions of Syrians have fled their homes and into neighboring countries as refugees. As refugees struggle with basic necessities and figuring out their futures, a new project has popped up to give refugee children a creative outlet and a voice through photography. Hundreds of children have been documenting their tumultuous childhood experience using disposable cameras.

It's all part of a one year project known as "Lahza2″ ("Glimpse" in Arabic) by Zakira("Memory" in Arabic), a photo-centric NGO. The organization partnered up with Unicef to provide 500 disposable cameras to refugee children between the ages of 7 and 12 who are living in tent communities across Lebanon.

Full article

OPPORTUNITIES / INTERNSHIPS: Digital Strategy Internship (Fall 2014)

Digital Strategy Internship (Fall 2014)

Deadline: 5 September, 2014 

Terms of Reference: Read more about this internship by Clicking here

Interested candidates are requested to submit a letter of interest, a complete UN P-11 form, an up-to-date university transcript, a proof of current enrolment in undergraduate or graduate programme, and Letter of recommendation to Mr Dale Rutstein, Chief of Communication, on drutstein@unicef.org.

The subject of the email should indicate: Digital Strategy Internship (Fall 2014).

Source: http://www.unicef-irc.org/aboutIRC/internship_opportunities.html

ARTICLES: A budding young journalist puts herself in the picture

It was only 10 am when I arrived at Garmawa camp, 35km south-west of the city of Dohuk, but the sun was shining bright and the temperature was already very hot.  As we wiped the sweat off our brows, my colleague explained the camp’s apt name: “In Kurdish, ‘garm’ means hot and ‘awa’ means water.”

Garmawa is a new camp being set up to accommodate up to 10,000 of the approximately 200,000 Internally Displaced Persons, who fled into Dohuk Governorate because of the violence spreading across central and northern Iraq.

full article

Colombian producers win UNICEF Special Prize at the 50th edition of Prix Jeunesse

by Chris Schuepp
MUNICH, Germany, 4 June 2014 - The Colombian production "Te Recreo" ("I so believe you") by Canal Capital from Bogota is the winner of this year's UNICEF Special Prize at the Prix Jeunesse. The award was given to the producers and directors of the successful local children's TV show during the 50th edition of the Prix Jeunesse, the "Oscars of children's TV", in Munich, Germany.

Hundreds of children's TV makers and broadcasters from more than 60 countries had gathered in the Bavarian capital in the south of Germany for six days to watch, discuss and further develop children's programming under the motto "Feelings in focus - Emotions in children's TV".

For over 20 years, UNICEF has been encouraging broadcasters to create programming that highlights children’s issues and rights, and ideally empowers children and young people through the medium of TV. In the decision to award "Te Recreo" from Colombia with the award this year, special attention was paid to the fact that this program truly accomplishes what UNICEF has been pushing for. It is a program not only for kids but also by kids. It gives children a voice and puts them in front of the camera, giving a platform for a diversity of children to share what is important to them and what they want to change in their environment or society. It combines a fun, spirited atmosphere with serious issues, giving kids a chance to learn about the lives and situations of kids in other communities.

"Te Recreo" is currently in its 2nd season and has been running on local TV in Bogota and on a national cable station throughout Colombia since August 2013. More than 35 episodes have been aired so far and in each episode, more than 50 children from different schools and communities in Bogota take part in the development and production of the program. The show is funded by the Department of Eduction of the City of Bogota.

After receiving the award in Munich, the producer, directors and the screen-writer of the show who were all present at Prix Jeunesse were overjoyed. "This is the first time Colombia wins an award at the Prix Jeunesse. We're absolutely thrilled. It's been a lot of hard work to put this show together, but the reactions have been so overwhelming and the UNICEF award now really encourages us to keep going and get even better in bringing up all these important issues of the children," said Mónica Baquero García, the producer of "Te Recreo", after the 2 1/2-hour awards gala in Munich.

All the winners of this year's Prix Jeunesse can be found here. The Special Gender Equity Prize went to a very courageous production called "Burka Avenger" from Pakistan.

The next Prix Jeunesse takes place in Munich in 2016. More information about events, news and training opportunities is available at www.prixjeunesse.de.


Please also see: Noticias Canal Capital - Canal Capital news about the award from 4 June 2014 - http://youtu.be/eSPBakttHA4 (in Spanish)

OneMinutesJr videos on child rights, Part 1 of 4

NEWS: Children from Moldova express through drawings what a caring family means to them

CHISINAU, 4 March 2014 - Some 40 children aged 9-18 from Moldova were awarded in a drawing competition about family care. They received diplomas and painting sets for expressing their opinions about what a loving and caring family means to them. 

 

The national drawing competition "My family raises me with care" was organized by the Ministry of Education and UNICEF in partnership with Youth Media Centre NGO to promote a non-violent education among children, parents, and teachers.

full article

OneMinutesJr in Kyrgyzstan

Been very busy over the last two weeks with back-to-back workshops in Bishkek and Karakol, both in Kyrgyzstan.

First was the workshop in the capital on "Violence against children",
now we're about to finish the workshop on "water & sanitation" in Karakol in the east of the country.

Take a look here:


Day 1 - http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/kids_25724.html
Day 2 - http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/kids_25730.html
Day 3 - http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/kids_25735.html
Day 4 - http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/kids_25740.html
Day 5 - http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/kids_25743.html

Video playlist - http://bit.ly/bishkek-tomjr-2014

Or check out the collection of articles on storify -
http://storify.com/unicefceecis/oneminutesjr-workshop-on-violence-against-children

-----

The second workshop in Karakol was/is on "Water & sanitation", here are
the links:

Day 1 - http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/kids_25755.html
Day 2 - http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/kids_25777.html
Day 3 - http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/kids_25785.html
Day 4 - http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/kids_25812.html
Day 5 - http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/kids_25816.html (to be published)

Video playlist - http://bit.ly/karakol-tomjr-2014 (to be published)

Enjoy!!!

"My village" - Behind the scenes of a children's TV show from Laos

ARTICLES: Meeting Youth Around the World - the OneMinutesJr

"I’ve been coordinating the global OneMinutesJr. initiative since 2007. The project is an arts-based video initiative that seeks to capture the voices and expressions of youth on issues and subjects important to them. These viewpoints are captured in one-minute videos that are then shared through a multitude of platforms.

In the past six years with the OneMinutesJr., I have met over 450 different youth around the world. There is no one “profile” for the young people that participate in UNICEF’s arts-based one-minute video project. But this uniqueness means that each workshop is a new experience, a chance to meet another diverse group of children."

full article

COMPETITION: Be the brain behind the next VOY Citizens video

How many times have you watched a video clip about internet safety and thought to yourself: “Hmm that's boring or lame...I can do better” ?

We're giving you that chance…

As part of our involvement in the Global Youth Summit: BYND2015 and the Be Smart Be Safe session, we're launching a competition to give young people the chance to help us create a powerful awareness raising video about internet safety.

We're looking for ideas - not videos themselves. The winning idea will be created into a video by UNICEF - similar to these. This video will be used by UNICEF and its partners to advocate for smart and safe use of the internet among young people, and the winner's name will be included in the video credit and in the media buzz that we'll create.

Read more

ARTICLES / PROJECTS: Children make the news in Bangladesh

Children are generating, writing, shooting – and headlining – a popular primetime television news programme in Bangladesh.

By Arifa S Sharmin

DHAKA, Bangladesh, 27 February 2013 – “This is Shampa Islam reporting from the slums of Geneva Camp, Mirpur, Dhaka, for ATN Bangla.”
With that, the journalist signs off her television news report on the unhealthy and unsanitary living conditions of children in Geneva Camp, a low-income housing area.

It has been a good piece of television reporting. But what grabs the viewer’s attention is that the reporter is only 16 years old.


full article

OPPORTUNITIES: Adobe Youth Voices Aspire Awards UNICEF Challenge

For the first time ever, Adobe Youth Voices Aspire Awards has partnered up with UNICEF to give YOU the opportunity to implement active change in YOUR community. The Adobe Youth Voices Aspire Awards UNICEF Challenge is looking to provide three youth led projects with grants to support the implementation of innovative initiatives.

First prize receives $40,000. Second prize receives $30,000. Lastly, the audience award-winning project receives $20,000. All Adobe Youth Voices Aspire Awards UNICEF Challenge prize funds must be used to support the implementation of the winning projects.

Show us your imagination, creativity, and innovation through the use of digital tools and social media. Produce a short video outlining your proposal for a new or existing initiative that will benefit other youth in your community. This is your chance to make a difference in the world, report about it, and show the progress made to millions of people through the Adobe Youth Voices network, UNICEF’s global social media feeds, and the Voices of Youth community.

In addition to receiving financial funds for your project, the local experts will also provide support during the initial implementation process.

Submissions now open!

To be eligible for the contest, you must be between the ages of 13-19 years old, and your project must have been created between 2010-2013. Entries are being accepted now until April 19, 2013. Please go to the submissionspage to submit today!

Mobilize, organize, and take action!

More info here

WORKSHOPS / TRAINING: Workshop motivates people (PACIFIC REGION)

MORE than 20 participants from around the Pacific were part of a one-week UNICEF OneTalk4 All workshop at Tanoa Plaza in Suva.

The aim of the workshop was to get people talking about issues concerning youths within the Pacific region and finding ways to solving those issues through the support of the media.

Participants got achance to express their concerns on violence, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), non-communicable diseases and education and how they can get youths to be more aware of the issues.

Beiateta'ake Burabura of Kiribati said she had learnt a lot during the one-week workshop and it had motivated her in creating awareness on issues such as violence, education and STIs in her country.

Ms Burabura said she would surely make a difference when returning to her country as she would present everything she had learnt through the radio station.

"We got the chance to produce radio jingles and TV production ads, which portrays the importance of education," she said.

full article in the Fiji Times

NEWS / EVENTS: Youths gather to focus on child issues

Twenty-one participants from the Pacific region have gathered in Suva to address issues related to children and youths using the media.

The workshop has been organized by UNICEF,PACMAS and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

UNICEF spokesperson, Tomas Jensen says the participants will be engaged in group activities.

“We are going to be producing between 15 and 20 radio, tv, print and social media production that are focusing on topics relevant to young people in the pacific and we are also going to try to establish partnership with the media so that young people continue to do production after the workshop."

full article

AWARDS: Kara David, I-Witness receive UNICEF prize in Korea

GMA Network television host Kara David and her "I-Witness" team received the prestigious UNICEF Child Rights Award this week at the Asia Broadcasting Union awards ceremony in Seoul, Korea for the documentary "Alkansya."

GMA News TV will show the“Alkansya” I-Witness documentary in a special, primetime airing on October 27, Saturday, at 10:00 p.m. on Channel 11.  

David’s “Alkansya” stood out from over 40 entries from the Asia and Pacific region as the besttelevision documentary on children’s rights. 

“Alkansya” tells the story of Anthony, a 12-year old boy from Eastern Samar who has to dive for sea cucumbers everyday. 

full article

NEWS: UNICEF Trains Journalists On Child Issues (BELIZE)

Today was day 2 of a 3 day workshop for journalists on children's rights reporting. The workshop is being held by UNICEF and focuses mainly on children's issues in the media.

Some of the topics covered over the past 2 days included how to handle sensitive stories about children, and making the stories interesting without damaging children.

full article

VIDEO: Meena, India's Dora the Explorer, Helps UNICEF Promote 'Child Rights'

UNICEF launched its annual Child Rights Week this week in Bangladesh. The program is a part of an ongoing grass-roots initiative to educate children and their families about urgent social and public health concerns that range from neonatal health, nutrition, and early childhood education to the practices of dowry and child marriages.

In a country where the literacy rate is still a struggling 53 percent, and the average age that a child drops out of school is 8 years old, mass media as an instructive tool is vitally important. The cartoon heroine Meena, an Indian girl around the age of 10 who lives in a rural village with her family, is the stand-in for a multitude of girls and boys across the subcontinent facing the same issues highlighted by UNICEF — issues which Meena routinely dramatizes on her show.

"Meena is now a daughter not only of Bangladesh but the whole of South Asia," said the UNICEF representative to Bangladesh, Pascal Villeneuve, in a statement on July 27. "She talks about issues affecting girl children in particular, such as education, early marriage, and unequal distribution of household chores."

full article

NEWS: Social Good Summit panel debates the Web, social media, apps and handsets in service of A Promise Renewed

MP Nunan and Rebecca Obstler

NEW YORK, United States of America, 25 September 2012 - UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake asks you to imagine a football stadium. But he asks you to think about it in terms of child mortality.

“We have cut child mortality by 40 percent since 1990. Some countries…have cut it by over 60 percent. And that’s great news,” Mr. Lake said.

“But the fact is that, today, 19,000 kids will die,” he continued. “Just imagine that a football stadium or Madison Square Garden full of those kids, who are going to die today.  If they were all there, and the world knew – we could see them – do you think the world would be paying even more attention than it does now? I think it would.”

full article