UNICEF USA

A huge thank you to all of our UNICEF Clubs for turning your ideas into action during last week's #WorldChildrensDay! ?? From raising awareness for child rights to "turning your cities blue" and celebrating the power of youth and community, you showed up in incredible ways, as you always do. ?? Swipe through for some of the day’s highlights, because these moments — and you — deserve to be celebrated!

A few days ago, I reflected on the joy of watching my granddaughter, Harper, explore her world with curiosity and wonder. She reminded me of the hope children have—and of the responsibility we have to protect and nurture it. As we reflect on COP29, the juxtaposition is stark. The climate crisis continues to disproportionately impact children, threatening their health, safety and futures. UNICEF's State of the World’s Children Report, released on last week’s World Children’s Day, paints a sobering picture of the challenges ahead. It’s a reminder that the decisions we are making now—about climate, technology, equity and more—are already shaping the lives of future generations. We have to take accountability for that, for them. Alongside the challenges laid out in the State of the World’s Children Report, I was also able to take inspiration from my granddaughter to find hope in action. Hope in the parents I met in Guatemala who are participating in early childhood programs. Hope in the youth advocates mobilizing their peers for change. Hope in the young innovators developing sustainable solutions to protect their communities. This hope fuels my belief that a better world for children is possible, with a caveat: We must act with urgency and purpose. We need bold, tangible action, not just conversations. We need accountability, not just commitments. And we need all of us—leaders, governments, communities and young people—working together. I'm recommitting to the work ahead. For Harper, for every child, for the future. What about you?

We’re proud to celebrate the recent #AnthemAwards recognition of Passport to Earning (P2E), a global program from UNICEF's Generation Unlimited, supported by partners like Microsoft, that’s empowering young people with the skills they need for tomorrow’s economy. Passport to Earning bridges the gap for young people aged 15-24 by providing free, world-class, job-relevant skills training to better position young people to access employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. From digital literacy to advanced technical skills, P2E equips the next generation with the tools to succeed in an ever-evolving global economy. Congratulations to everyone involved in continuing to make a positive impact for young people with the Passport to Earning, and thank you to The Anthem Awards for this recognition. Microsoft AI Skills

For more than 70 years, UNICEF has worked relentlessly to pursue a more equitable world #ForEveryChild. This #GivingTuesday, the #UNICEFGala will serve as a celebration of those efforts and the incredible progress we’ve made together — and fuel us for the work that lies ahead in ensuring every child is healthy, educated, protected and respected. Together, we can create lasting change. Join us in celebrating UNICEF’s impact and the generous support of our #UNICEFGala presenting sponsor, The 72 Fund, by visiting the links in our comments below.

This past week marked the 70th #WorldChildrensDay, a day when the world focuses on the wellbeing of all children, everywhere. I had the honor of facilitating UNICEF USA's first Interfaith Convening on the Rights of Children. Faith leaders, youth advocates and many UNICEF partners were united by a shared mission to shape a better, more equitable future. ?“What gives you hope?” sparked conversation and ideas for action and accountability. Ans so I wonder… what gives YOU hope?

At UNICEF USA, we challenge ourselves to engage in big thinking and bold action to elevate our impact for children around the world. The Impact Accelerator, an internal competition encouraging UNICEF USA staff to experiment and innovate, was recently honored as an #AnthemAwards winner. This program fuels fresh thinking and strategic learning, fostering long-term growth and increased institutional impact. Impact Accelerator winners receive dedicated time, mentorship, training and access to external expertise to bring their projects to life. It’s all made possible by the passion, creativity and commitment of our team. A heartfelt congratulations to our colleagues leading with innovation, and thank you to The Anthem Awards for recognizing the power of experimentation to build a brighter future #ForEveryChild.

It’s an honor to see?UNICEF USA?recognized in this week's?#AnthemAwards?ceremony. To the remarkable teams and partners who brought each of these impactful projects to life, thank you for your vision and dedication. A reminder for those interested in learning more about?Anthem Award-winning Child Lens Investing Framework: Children are one-third of our world and all of our future. In addition to being among our 2024 Anthem Awards winners, the Child Lens Investing Framework—a collaborative effort by UNICEF USA’s Impact Fund for Children,?UNICEF Innovation,?Tideline, the?Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland?and many others—was recently recognized as one of? TIME's Best Inventions of 2024. And with good reason. What’s good for children is good for all of us. We call investors and business owners across the private and public markets to actively consider children in their investment strategies to build a better future for all.

A few thoughts as #COP29 comes to a close... First off, a reminder: The climate crisis remains one of the greatest threats to children everywhere, disproportionately affecting their health, safety and their futures. The climate crisis is a child rights crisis. This is a fact. UNICEF’s mission at COP29 has been clear: We must put children at the heart of climate action by prioritizing their health and well-being, and including them in all decisions and policymaking processes that impact their futures. Our collective inaction today is already defining the lives of future generations—and we have to take accountability for that. We must all hold ourselves accountable for collaborating across borders, sectors and generations. That is the only path forward. Conversations and strategizing are critical, yes, but the conversations had, and commitments made at COP29 must translate into tangible action, with the insights, health and futures of children and young people prioritized.

Looking for a gift that matters? ?? Join UNICEF USA and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to #LightTheWorld by providing life-changing support to children and families around the globe. From vaccines to nutritional support, every donation goes directly to helping kids thrive. Learn how you can make a difference: https://lnkd.in/gpAvpjXu

This week, at a World Children’s Day event on Capitol Hill, we were proud to honor three Members of Congress — Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO) — for their leadership in supporting policies to improve outcomes for children around the world. Representative Lee was honored for her decades-long fight to support maternal and child health, including her legacy of leadership in spearheading the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has saved more than 25 million lives around the world. Representative McCaul, a longstanding champion of efforts designed to improve health and wellbeing of children, was also honored for his commitment to supporting critical global nutrition programs that have saved millions of lives. Representative Wagner was recognized for her efforts to prioritize policies that emphasize child protection. She recently co-led legislation to protect women and children in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador from domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. We’re so grateful to everyone who was able to attend. You can find the honorees' full remarks from the event at the link in our comment below.