Winners receive exclusive behind-the-scenes trip to UNICEF in New York!
TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2012 /CNW/ - UNICEF Canada is launching the first ever national Student Challenge today, a new opportunity for Canadian post-secondary students to help vulnerable young people worldwide and win an exclusive behind-the-scenes trip to UNICEF headquarters in New York City.
"We know a lot of young Canadians are engaged global citizens," says UNICEF Canada's President and CEO David Morley."So we are pleased to launch this exciting opportunity for students to help reach some of the 884 million people who lack access to safe, clean drinking water worldwide."
UNICEF is challenging college and university students to become water champions by bringing sustainable water sources closer to children and families who need them most.
Water-borne illness are the second-highest cause of child deaths, with more than 5,000 children under five dying every day as a result of unsafe drinking water and poor hygiene.
Nearly one in five child deaths - about 1.5 million each year - is due to diarrhea which kills more young children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined.
UNICEF's Student Challenge is an opportunity for young Canadians to fight this deadly disease by ensuring communities have access to clean water.
Working in teams of two, students will educate their friends, family members and classmates on the importance of UNICEF's work providing safe drinking water for children and their families in more than 100 countries. Teams will then raise funds to purchase water pumps. Each pump, which costs only $500, provides an entire community with access to safe water.
Every time a team raises enough money to purchase a water pump they also receive one ballot in the official UNICEF draw to win the trip to New York City. The more pumps each team raises, the more communities they reach with safe water and the better their chance is of winning the trip.
"It's shocking to hear how many young people in the world get sick, miss school and even die from lack of access to clean water," says Rachael Chin-You, UNICEF's On Campus President at Trent University. "So it's empowering to participate in the Student Challenge because I know I am contributing to a sustainable solution and the opportunity to visit UNICEF in New York is very exciting."
Teams participating in the Student Challenge are encouraged to be creative to raise awareness and support to help as many young people and their families gain access to clean water as possible.
The Student Challenge begins today and ends on World Water Day, March 22. Challenge winners will travel to New York in the spring. Post-secondary students aged 18 to 25 can sign up to take UNICEF's Student Challenge here www.unicef.ca/studentchallenge
About UNICEF On Campus
The UNICEF Campus Clubs Program is a unique student leadership program that provides college and university students the opportunity to learn about global development issues, particularly the needs of the world's most disadvantaged children. The program also empowers students to help make a difference in disadvantaged children's lives through fundraising and advocacy on campus. Their involvement with UNICEF provides students the opportunity to be associated with the world's leading child-focused humanitarian and development agency, and to become part of the larger effort for children both here in Canada and overseas.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is the world's leading child-focused humanitarian and development agency. Through innovative programs and advocacy work, UNICEF saves children's lives and secures their rights in virtually every country. Its global reach, unparalleled influence on policymakers, and diverse partnerships make it an instrumental force in shaping a world in which no child dies of a preventable cause. UNICEF is entirely supported by voluntary donations and helps all children, regardless of race, religion or politics. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca.
For more information or to arrange interviews please contact;
Melanie Sharpe
UNICEF Canada, Media Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: +1 416 482-6552 ext 8892
Cell: 416-806-2764
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