The Martlet

There’s a new club on campus, and it’s having an impact much farther than the borders of UVic.

The UVic UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) club has plans to strengthen its efforts in the new year with increasing involvement in campaigns that work to improve child welfare around the globe.

“I hear a lot of students asking, ‘What can I do?’” said Myla Marks, last semester’s club director. “We’re here to offer an avenue.”

UNICEF is well known for the petit, orange change collecting boxes children used to carry while trick or treating. Although the box program is now defunct, UNICEF is working harder than ever to help children around the globe.

On the ground, in over 150 countries and territories, the organization helps children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. As the world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality education and the protection of children from violence, exploitation and AIDS.

It is funded entirely by voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments, and run by volunteers.

There are about 11 solid members contributing to UNICEF through the UVic club. Around Halloween, they went trick or treating for change to raise money for the UNICEF initiative called Schools for Africa. The program supports building schools, training teachers, getting clean water, supplies and supporting educational initiatives on a local basis.

This spring, the club has arranged for UNICEF to come to UVic to do a workshop on water education for students in the teaching program.

It also plans to become involved in the UNICEF Spread the Net campaign. The campaign started after Rick Mercer and Belinda Stronach travelled to Africa in 2006 and saw the devastating effects of Malaria. Mercer and Stronach organized the campaign with a goal of raising $5 million in three years for UNICEF to purchase and distribute 500,000 insecticide-treated bed nets to families in Liberia and Rwanda.

“The club matches so many values and beliefs,” said Marks. “If people want to donate money to us, they can, but that’s not what we’re here for. We’re here to advocate.”

Marks said that there are people at UNICEF who are researching how donated money can best be spent.

“UNICEF has done all the dirty work,” said Marks, adding that the UVic club is about coming together for a “common good.”

For more information on the club email unicef@uvic.ca. The UVic UNICEF club will also be at clubs and course union day on Wednesday, Jan. 13, in the SUB.