Make the World Cup count for children
Australians urged to sign up to global education campaign
SYDNEY, 20 May 2010 – With world attention focused on Africa, this year’s FIFA World Cup presents a critical opportunity to get greater action for children who are denied the chance to go to school, according to UNICEF Australia’s inaugural Youth Ambassador, Dev Bhutani.
Today, 72 million children in the world are denied the chance to go to school. These children could be our next generation’s leaders, sports stars, doctors and teachers. But they face a lifelong struggle against poverty.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Since 2000, 40 million more children are in school. Education beats poverty – and gives people the tools to help themselves.
1GOAL is a campaign seizing the power of football to ensure that education for all is a lasting impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Raising our voices all over the world we believe that, together, we can make education a reality for the millions of boys and girls who remain out of school.
“Education is mostly taken for granted by young people in Australia, yet it is a right millions of children never receive,” Dev said.
“I want to challenge young people in Australia to add their voice to the 1GOAL campaign and unite with other youth around the world demanding that education becomes a reality for millions of children, everywhere.”
UNICEF is committed to achieving this ambitious goal of achieving universal primary education for all children and has identified basic education and gender equality as one of its 5 global priorities. As part of this commitment, each year on Universal Children’s Day in October, UNICEF Australia holds UNICEF Day for Change, a day where schools around Australia join together to raise funds and awareness for all children’s right to an education.
Dev, 18, has been appointed UNICEF Australia’s first Youth Ambassador. He has been passionately campaigning for the rights of children through his participation in UNICEF Australia’s youth initiatives since 2008, serving on the UNICEF Youth Advisory Panel and as a Youth Advocate for the CRC@20 celebrations in 2009.
In his role of UNICEF Australia Youth Ambassador 2010, Dev will be engaging with school and university students around Australia on a wide range of child right issues to ensure that UNICEF Australia’s work for and with young people is guided by a youth perspective.
To join the 1GOAL petition and support this important global campaign go to www.unicef.org.au or become a fan of Dev Bhutani’s UNICEF Australia Youth Ambassador Facebook page for updates on how your voice can make a difference.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
For more information, please contact:
Martin Thomas, UNICEF Australia
0401 332 399
mthomas@unicef.org.au
Martha Tattersall, UNICEF Australia
0421 570 393
mtattersall@unicef.org.au