ITV

Tag: UNICEF

  • Tendulkar applauds Swachh Bharat campaign champs

    Tendulkar applauds Swachh Bharat campaign champs

    NEW DELHI: “You either love your country or you don’t. Even as a common citizen, you can do your bit to keep your country clean by not littering, if you truly love it.”

    Winning huge accolades with these words, Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Ambassador Sachin Tendulkar said: “If every person in our country gives even one hour of their time every year, we can have billion-plus cleaning hours every year!”

    Speaking at a function organized by the Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry in association with UNICEF to meet the Swachh Bharat Champions Collectors across 22 States, Tendulkar expressed his support for the Swachh Bharat team and congratulated the champions on their achievements and determination for making India Swachh and Open Defecation Free. “I feel like a part of this team”, he said.

    Tendulkar also shared with the collectors his experiences of grit, determination and hard work from the cricketing field and as Swachh Bharat ambassador.

    Speaking about the World Cup 2011 finals, he said, “When that moment came in 2011, when we walked inside the stadium, I knew that we were steps away from achieving our goal. At that moment, we felt the good wishes of a billion people with us. The same good wishes of the people of our country are with you today, on your path to creating a Swachh Bharat.”

  • Tendulkar applauds Swachh Bharat campaign champs

    Tendulkar applauds Swachh Bharat campaign champs

    NEW DELHI: “You either love your country or you don’t. Even as a common citizen, you can do your bit to keep your country clean by not littering, if you truly love it.”

    Winning huge accolades with these words, Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Ambassador Sachin Tendulkar said: “If every person in our country gives even one hour of their time every year, we can have billion-plus cleaning hours every year!”

    Speaking at a function organized by the Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry in association with UNICEF to meet the Swachh Bharat Champions Collectors across 22 States, Tendulkar expressed his support for the Swachh Bharat team and congratulated the champions on their achievements and determination for making India Swachh and Open Defecation Free. “I feel like a part of this team”, he said.

    Tendulkar also shared with the collectors his experiences of grit, determination and hard work from the cricketing field and as Swachh Bharat ambassador.

    Speaking about the World Cup 2011 finals, he said, “When that moment came in 2011, when we walked inside the stadium, I knew that we were steps away from achieving our goal. At that moment, we felt the good wishes of a billion people with us. The same good wishes of the people of our country are with you today, on your path to creating a Swachh Bharat.”

  • UNICEF India launches ‘Fair Start’ for Every Child

    UNICEF India launches ‘Fair Start’ for Every Child

    Mumbai:  UNICEF India today unveiled the ‘Fair Start’ film as part of a (social) media campaign that will focus on persisting inequities that large groups of children in India face, affecting their survival, growth and development. A series of impactful films will give an insight into the lives of millions of children from various backgrounds, who are full of potential but less likely to grow up healthy and safe, less likely to attend school , less likely to learn, and more likely to be married as children. 

    Introducing the film, UNICEF India chief, advocacy & communication Caroline Den Dulk, said, “Every child deserves a fair start in his/her life and deserves adequate nutrition, education, sanitation, protection and health care. The campaign draws attention to the lives of many children who are deprived of these basic rights, often at times determined simply by where they are born. Every child should have a fair and equal chance in life, irrespective of their caste, ethnicity, gender, poverty, region or religion.” 

    UNICEF works closely with the Government of India and many other partners to curb the situation of the most vulnerable and deprived children, ensuring that each child born in this vast and complex country gets the best start in life, thrives and develops to his or her full potential. 
    Every Child deserves a #FairStart.  Currently, 6.1 million children in India are out- of -schoool; around 10 million children are engaged in work in India; close to 3500 children die every day before reaching age 5; 42 per cent of tribal children in India are stunted in their growth and development; and almost half the population of India, about 564 million people still practice open defecation.Girls in India deserve an equal chance in life too, but on an average 2.22 million girls marry early every year in India, and 23% girls between 15-19 years of age experience physical or sexual violence. 

    “Often the issues faced are immensely complex in nature and cut across all layers of society”, said Mrs. Den Dulk. “To make change happen a mind-shift is required. The #FairStart campaign aims at engaging the larger public in a debate and for everyone to see they have a role to play to make sure every child can have a fair chance in life”. 

    The ‘Fair Start’ films were produced with the participation of a group of children who brought their own daily reality to the film set. 

    “We have made this film with a lot of love and we hope you like it. Help us get a fair start, life. We deserve a #FairStart” 

    “The #FairStart campaign was quite a remarkable and prestigious project to work on for me, as well as the entire team. at Avant Garde Films. The most memorable thing was working with such wonderful kids from ‘Bigger Than Life’ NGO. They played cast and crew really well. For me, and I am sure for everyone who was a part of this project, it would be the most memorable experience and will be close to our hearts forever” – Abhishek De, Avant Garde Films. 

    Crew:

    Sahil: Camera man – Sahil is a 14 year old enthusiastic boy who is interested in sports and music. He is an avid cricket fan and wants to pursue cricket as his profession. He has a mother and a sister who love him. His father passed away 3 years back. He helps his uncle in laundry work. Sahil goes to an English medium school.

    Suraj: Art Director – Suraj is 10 years old. He has 3 sisters and 2 brothers. His mother works very hard selling corn. He helps his mother at her work. His father is an alcoholic and fights at home. Suraj wants to become a scientist when he grows up. 

    Shawn: Camera Man / Director – Shawn is 15 years old. He has 6 siblings. Since his father has left home and mother keeps unwell he has taken up the responsibility to work and earn money for his home. So he goes everyday to clean gutters. He does not go to school but wants to. He is good at football. He is very helpful and caring by nature.

    Belinda: Costume – Belinda is 13 years old. She goes to a municipal school. She is Shawn’s sister. She works at home after school hours. She is a very shy girl but aspires to become an office accountant when she grows up.

  • UNICEF India launches ‘Fair Start’ for Every Child

    UNICEF India launches ‘Fair Start’ for Every Child

    Mumbai:  UNICEF India today unveiled the ‘Fair Start’ film as part of a (social) media campaign that will focus on persisting inequities that large groups of children in India face, affecting their survival, growth and development. A series of impactful films will give an insight into the lives of millions of children from various backgrounds, who are full of potential but less likely to grow up healthy and safe, less likely to attend school , less likely to learn, and more likely to be married as children. 

    Introducing the film, UNICEF India chief, advocacy & communication Caroline Den Dulk, said, “Every child deserves a fair start in his/her life and deserves adequate nutrition, education, sanitation, protection and health care. The campaign draws attention to the lives of many children who are deprived of these basic rights, often at times determined simply by where they are born. Every child should have a fair and equal chance in life, irrespective of their caste, ethnicity, gender, poverty, region or religion.” 

    UNICEF works closely with the Government of India and many other partners to curb the situation of the most vulnerable and deprived children, ensuring that each child born in this vast and complex country gets the best start in life, thrives and develops to his or her full potential. 
    Every Child deserves a #FairStart.  Currently, 6.1 million children in India are out- of -schoool; around 10 million children are engaged in work in India; close to 3500 children die every day before reaching age 5; 42 per cent of tribal children in India are stunted in their growth and development; and almost half the population of India, about 564 million people still practice open defecation.Girls in India deserve an equal chance in life too, but on an average 2.22 million girls marry early every year in India, and 23% girls between 15-19 years of age experience physical or sexual violence. 

    “Often the issues faced are immensely complex in nature and cut across all layers of society”, said Mrs. Den Dulk. “To make change happen a mind-shift is required. The #FairStart campaign aims at engaging the larger public in a debate and for everyone to see they have a role to play to make sure every child can have a fair chance in life”. 

    The ‘Fair Start’ films were produced with the participation of a group of children who brought their own daily reality to the film set. 

    “We have made this film with a lot of love and we hope you like it. Help us get a fair start, life. We deserve a #FairStart” 

    “The #FairStart campaign was quite a remarkable and prestigious project to work on for me, as well as the entire team. at Avant Garde Films. The most memorable thing was working with such wonderful kids from ‘Bigger Than Life’ NGO. They played cast and crew really well. For me, and I am sure for everyone who was a part of this project, it would be the most memorable experience and will be close to our hearts forever” – Abhishek De, Avant Garde Films. 

    Crew:

    Sahil: Camera man – Sahil is a 14 year old enthusiastic boy who is interested in sports and music. He is an avid cricket fan and wants to pursue cricket as his profession. He has a mother and a sister who love him. His father passed away 3 years back. He helps his uncle in laundry work. Sahil goes to an English medium school.

    Suraj: Art Director – Suraj is 10 years old. He has 3 sisters and 2 brothers. His mother works very hard selling corn. He helps his mother at her work. His father is an alcoholic and fights at home. Suraj wants to become a scientist when he grows up. 

    Shawn: Camera Man / Director – Shawn is 15 years old. He has 6 siblings. Since his father has left home and mother keeps unwell he has taken up the responsibility to work and earn money for his home. So he goes everyday to clean gutters. He does not go to school but wants to. He is good at football. He is very helpful and caring by nature.

    Belinda: Costume – Belinda is 13 years old. She goes to a municipal school. She is Shawn’s sister. She works at home after school hours. She is a very shy girl but aspires to become an office accountant when she grows up.

  • Hrithik Roshan to endorse Global Goals’ World’s Largest Lesson campaign

    Hrithik Roshan to endorse Global Goals’ World’s Largest Lesson campaign

    MUMBAI: Indian film star Hrithik Roshan has been named as the India ambassador for The World’s Largest Lesson, an initiative launched by the Global Goals campaign and UNICEF.

     

    The World’s Largest Lesson aims to teach children in over 100 countries about the new Sustainable Development Goals that will be adopted by the UN General Assembly later this month. It is part of the campaign to tell everyone about The Global Goals and will engage children and young people in the global effort to build a more sustainable future for everyone.

     

    Roshan joins other international public figures such as PLAN global ambassador Freida Pinto, Dani Alves, Kolo Touré, Neymar Jr., Nobel peace prize laureate Malala Yousafzai; UNICEF ambassadors Nancy Ajram, Serena Williams and Eminent Advocate for UNICEF Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan.

     

    With India having the world’s youngest population, children and young people will be most affected by the implementation of the goals.

     

    “The World’s Largest Lesson will do more than teach children about the global goals. It will engage them in the effort to achieve those goals – educating them about the challenges that are shaping their futures and encouraging them to drive change in their own communities. Young people can help achieve the global goals by holding their leaders accountable for the promises they are making – and by holding themselves accountable for building a better future for everyone,” said UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake.

     

    The World’s Largest Lesson was held in classrooms on every continent during the week of 28 September. A potential 500 million girls and boys between the ages of 8 and 14 got the chance to learn about the Global Goals, which range from ending extreme poverty for all people everywhere, to tackling climate change, and giving all children the opportunity to gain a quality primary and secondary education. 

     

    The campaign is also supported by Indian NGOs The Akshaya Patra Foundation.

     

    Specially created lesson plans include an animated film by author and education expert Sir Ken Robinson that introduces the Global Goals, and a downloadable comic book by Josh Elder and Karl Kesel.

     

    Along with Roshan, other prominent public figures like Yousafzai have recorded their own introduction to The World’s Largest Lesson as well. The animated film invites students to consider the creative superpower they have and use it to help change the world for the better. Additional lesson plans and information are available for teachers to select based on the themes most relevant for their pupils.

     

    “The World’s Largest Lesson is a fantastic opportunity to tell all children, everywhere what the Global Goals are and how they can play their part to make sure they are achieved. It would be wonderful if all teachers could make sure the World’s Largest Lesson is taught at their school. By making the Global Goals famous we can give them the best chance of working around the world – and help make us the first generation to end extreme poverty, the most determined generation in history to end injustice and inequality, and the last generation to be threatened by climate change,” said Global Goals campaign founder Richard Curtis.

     

    Roshan added, “As a father, I believe that all children should have access to good education and through this education they learn how to take care of their health. In order to achieve the best, they need to be fit and healthy. It enables children to push their extreme. These are fundamental rights that every child deserves hence I champion Goal 3 Good Health.”

  • UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Priyanka Chopra bats for adolescent anaemia patients

    UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Priyanka Chopra bats for adolescent anaemia patients

    NEW DELHI: UNICEF has released a short film in which its Goodwill Ambassador Priyanka Chopra and others emphasised the importance of stepping up the fight against adolescent anaemia, regarded as a major health problem among adolescents in developing countries including India.

     

    In the film released on the occasion of World Youth Day, Chopra said, “One out of two young girls and one out of three young boys in India are anaemic. Anaemia is a serious health problem not only in rural but also in the urban areas. Anaemia can be prevented by taking iron-rich diet, Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) tablets once a week and deworming tablets every six months. It is really that simple.”

     

    The film highlights the importance of the Government’s Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) programme for adolescents launched in 2012 to reduce severity and prevalence of nutritional anaemia in adolescents between 15 and 19 years. Several medical personnel also spoke about the problem of anaemia along with Chopra.

     

    As many as 56 per cent girls and 30 per cent boys in this age group in India are anaemic, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 3 data. This group comprises one-fourth of India’s population and is a key driver of its future economic growth.

     

    Research shows that after the first year of life, adolescence is the second highest growth spurt period. Adolescents, if given the right nutrition, gain up to 50 per cent of their adult weight, more than 20 per cent of their adult height, and 50 per cent of their adult bone mass during this period.

  • TV Child Rights entries invited for APAC Awards

    TV Child Rights entries invited for APAC Awards

    NEW DELHI: The Asia-Pacific Child Rights Award for Television 2015 has called for entries from broadcasters and producers.

     

    The awards have been instituted by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), CASBAA and UNICEF.

     

    Each year, the award is given to the best television programming on children’s rights produced in the Asia-Pacific region. It recognizes the efforts of broadcasters and producers in pursuing high quality children’s programming and better coverage of children’s issues.

     

    Last year, the world marked the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The celebrations of this landmark agreement will focus public and media attention on children’s rights. Television has a vital role to play in this.

     

    Programmes both for and about children are eligible, and can cover any child rights issue.

     

    Entries can include documentaries that detail the plight of children, dramas that help break down stereotypes and discrimination, or animation that teaches and entertains.

     

    Entries must have been broadcast between June 2014 and May 2015 and must be received by 15 June, 2015. The award will be presented during the CASBAA Convention 26-28 October, in Hong Kong. 

  • Tata Sky and UNICEF join hands to promote ‘Child-Friendly Schools and Systems’

    Tata Sky and UNICEF join hands to promote ‘Child-Friendly Schools and Systems’

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky, the leading Direct-to-home service provider in the country and UNICEF today announced their joint initiative to promote quality learning in a protective environment using the ‘Child-Friendly Schools and Systems’ (CFSS) package.

    Supporting the UNICEF cause, Tata Sky will offer its platform to raise funds from subscribers facilitating the CFSS package. Tata Sky subscribers would be able to donate either Rs. 20/- or Rs. 50/- per recharge by simply giving a missed call on the two numbers (090154 90154 and 09015690156 respectively) allotted specifically for this cause.
     
    With the launch of this three month long initiative, Tata Sky reinforced its philosophy, of focusing on creating a platform for children’s educational and holistic development. For Tata Sky, supporting UNICEF’s program on improving the quality of learning in a protective environment is another step in that direction.
     
    “This initiative is an enabler as it leverages the wide outreach of Tata Sky in remote parts of the country and raises mass awareness on the need for quality education and inclusive learning. It is an opportunity to engage with the growing middle class in India – the majority of Tata Sky’s clientele – to contribute in creating a joyful and conducive school environment for children,” said Louis Georges Arsenault, Representative, UNICEF India.
     
    UNICEF India Celebrity Advocate, Kareena Kapoor Khan will support the communication campaign for the initiative which includes promotional films, mailers, and social media and advocates that every child should have the right to quality education.  
     
    Launching the partnership, Kareena Kapoor said, “I recently visited quite a few schools with UNICEF to see child-friendly schools and to meet some of the girls and boys that are benefitting from these programmes. I was inspired to see spaces which are child-friendly. These are places where children are full of joy when they interact with teachers, where children feel safe and secure and where interactive and creative tools are used to ensure that children are happy and learning.”
     
    She added, “Kisi aur ka sapna apnake dekho, achcha lagta hai!” (Own someone else’s dream, it feels good).

     

  • Doordarshan and UNICEF honour Maharashtra’s Navjyotis

    Doordarshan and UNICEF honour Maharashtra’s Navjyotis

    MUMBAI: Nine girls coming from culturally diverse backgrounds and different parts of the state have one common message to share – ‘Girls are not any less’. These are Navjyoti’s, nine girls achievers for 2014, who have struggled hard to shape their lives and also bring about change in their own community.

     

    A joint venture of UNICEF and Doordashan Mumbai Kendra, Navjyoti programme aims to give recognition to initiatives taken by the girls despite their adverse circumstances. Started in 2003, Navjyoti celebrated its eleventh year in a colorfully decked studio in Mumbai’s television center Doordarshan in this weekend. Once again, the stories of ‘girl power’ unfolded and stunned the audience during this inspiring and emotional evening.  Nine girls from remote Maharashtra were felicitated by Doordashan and UNICEF in Navjyoti awards for resisting child marriages and also helping other girls fight the scourge.

     

    All these girls are being felicitated for being role models in their villages. They come from very underprivileged backgrounds, and struggle to study. Navjyoti awards which are partnered by Doordarshan Sahyadri and UNICEF are an encouragement for them.

     

    These nine Navjoti’s received the UNICEF and Doordarshan Awards this year: 

     

    1. Rohini Pashte from Pithori Shirasgaon (Jalna)
    2. Shevanti Rathod from Farhatpur (Tanda) in Latur
    3. Prateeksha Waghmare from Hiwari Pahari in Beed
    4. Devika Katingal in Kulbhatti village from Gadchiroli
    5. Radha Shinde from Ukalgaon in Parbhani
    6. Ravina Mengar from Chindkle Khaire in Nashik
    7. Sarla Rathod from Nimpha in Yavatmal district
    8. Poornima Ade from Sewadas Nagar in Chandrapur district
    9. Ashwini Gosavi, from Wadale in Nandurbar district.

     

    Doordarshan Addl. director general Mukesh Sharma said, “Doordarshan continues to play its role as a National Broadcaster and believes in encouraging such initiatives which ultimately benefits the entire society. Education has the power to transform lives. If we educate a boy, we educate one person. If we educate a girl, we educate a family – and a whole nation. I have always believed that investing in a girl’s education is investing in a nation’s growth and development”.

     

    For all the Navjyoti girls it was a special moment in their lives. They received honors from eminent and inspiring personalities like Shaina NC, Meera Bowankar, Samruddhi Pore, Nishigandha Wad, Richard Bell, Faiyaaz, Rajeshri Chandrasekhar and Dr. Nandita Palshetkar. The courage of these girls is promising and a reassurance of a bright future for our country,” remained a common feeling expressed by the guests.

     

    DD Sahyadri will telecast the program ‘Navjyoti Sahyadrichya’ on 20 December 2014 from 4:00 pm onwards.

     

  • Entries invited by ABU for Asia Pacific Child Rights award for Television

    Entries invited by ABU for Asia Pacific Child Rights award for Television

    NEW DELHI: The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), CASBAA and UNICEF have invited broadcasters and producers to submit entries to the Asia-Pacific Child Rights Award for Television 2014.

     

    The award is given each year to the best television programming on child rights produced in the Asia-Pacific region. It recognises the efforts of broadcasters and producers in pursuing high quality children’s programming and better coverage of their issues.

     

    In 2014, the world will mark the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The celebrations of this landmark agreement will focus public and media attention on children’s rights. Television has a vital role to play in this.

     

    Programmes both for and about children are eligible, and can cover any child rights issue. Entries can include documentaries that detail the plight of children, dramas that help break down stereotypes and discrimination, or animation that teaches and entertains.

     

    Entries must have been broadcast between June 2013 and May 2014 and must be received by 30 June 2014. The award will be presented during the ABU General Assembly in October 2014 in Macau.