Unicef - Pupils Gear Up To Bring Change For Syria’s Children

5 May 2016 10:20 AM

Pupils Asked To Come Together On Unicef’s Day For Change To Help Children Affected By The Conflict In Syria

Students across the country are gearing up to help raise vital funds for Syrian children as Unicef UK’s annual Day for Change takes place on Friday 13 May.

With more than eight million Syrian children now in urgent need of life-saving aid, Unicef is calling on schools to collect as much loose change as they can to help keep Syrian children safe.

Pupils can get creative and hold special fundraising events, from cake sales, to ‘Wear-it-blue’ non uniform days or Bring-a-Pound days. 

And this year, Day for Change promises to be bigger and better than ever because the UK government will double every penny schools raise for the appeal until 22 July 2016, helping Unicef to reach even more children in danger. 

After five years of war, Syria remains one of the most dangerous places to be a child. Millions of children’s lives have been turned upside down by the conflict. So many have lost family, friends and schools and so many have been forced to flee their homes. 

Unicef is one of the few organisations working for children inside Syria and the surrounding countries, providing life-saving food, clean water, and health care, as well as education and protection from violence, exploitation and abuse.

The money raised by schools will help Unicef provide urgent life-saving supplies to children and families affected by the crisis. For example, £1 could protect 10 children from polio by providing life-saving vaccinations, £6 could help pay for life-saving treatment for a child with pneumonia or diarrhoea and £33 could help provide support for a child who has suffered the psychological trauma of war.

Unicef is also providing a range of Day for Change resources to help school children learn about the crisis in Syria and to inspire them to raise money. 

The resources will help children in the UK understand how children like 11-year-old Sarah, from Aleppo in Syria, are affected by the ongoing conflict. Sarah’s school had no windows after it was attacked last year, until Unicef helped to rebuild it. Now Sarah says: “When I grow up, I think I will be an architect, to build new schools for children in my country.”

Unicef UK Deputy Executive Director Catherine Cottrell said: “It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see so many children’s lives turned upside down by this conflict, and I know that pupils across the country will want to do their bit to help. There are more than eight million Syrian children now in urgent need of assistance. With the UK government matching every penny for Day for Change, this means all the money you and your classmates raise will go twice as far in helping Unicef make sure Syrian children are safe and able to enjoy their childhood.” 

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: “Britain’s young people are more passionate about international issues than any generation before them. Their fundraising efforts show that they understand the leading role that the UK has to play in the world, and that’s why we are doubling every penny schools raise for Syria on Unicef’s Day for Change this June. Together we’ll reach thousands more children caught in this brutal conflict with lifesaving help.”

To find out how you can get involved in Day for Change or to download ideas, tips or activity plans to help make your fundraising activities a huge success visit: unicef.uk/dayforchange 

For further information please contact the Unicef UK Press Office on +44 (0)20 7375 6030 or media@unicef.org.uk

About Unicef

Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.  

Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children.  As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK. For more information please visit unicef.uk