UNICEF at 75 - our Third 25 Years
Cover Page
About our Cover
The cover of this edition is taken from a set of greeting cards produced by UNICEF Germany, which are meant to send a message of social cohesion and cultural diversity, promoting a fair, tolerant and open-minded world. Even in the digital age, greeting cards continue as a main medium to spread joy, sympathy and hope. Click here to see other artworks in the collection.
About this edition of the Quarterly
As with all of our publications, this edition of the Quarterly is a team effort - not just an effort among members of the editorial team, but also among the authors who worked with the editors. We sincerely thank everyone who contributed, and we hope that you will continue writing and contributing to future editions.
Each of our Quarterlies is led by a Chief Editor for the edition. This edition was led by Detlef Palm. We thank Detlef for the many hours he invested in working with the contributing authors and in composing the edition.
How to read this edition of the Quarterly
You are reading the online version of the Quarterly. Below you find the Table of Contents, followed by a very short introduction to each of the articles, and the author's index at the end.
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Introduction
It Seems Like Only Yesterday
Ann Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director, 2005 to 2010
Programming
Emergencies
New Nations
The changing programme environment
The management reviews and change management
Special Experiences
Finally
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It Seems Like Only Yesterday
These 25 years have roared past us in a blur. The faces, voices, events, crises, achievements, and failures - they seem mere flashbacks of yesterday, not yet old enough to be called ‘history’. And yet, history they are - a history all of us have lived and shared.
The authors included in this edition of the Quarterly have each tried to capture particular moments of that history, each telling the story from a slightly different angle. The stories they tell should encourage each of us to reflect on our own memories, and share our own stories. After all, the people of UNICEF’s past 25 years are friends and colleagues we knew personally. The events are ones we experienced personally. The stories are ones only we can tell properly.
It seems too simple to continue calling each few years of UNICEF history ‘the period when we matured as an organization’. In fact, UNICEF was ‘mature’ and has continued maturing throughout its history. There is no end point in this process - certainly not for a movement seeking better lives for children. UNICEF’s genius, it seems, lies in keeping its youthful spirit and its willingness to learn, innovate and grow a central element of its maturity.
Did we have a choice about innovating or growing? Not likely. The wars, disasters, epidemics and a pandemic kept coming. So too did the opportunities. Innovation, change and fast adaptation were essential to UNICEF’s role both in development and in humanitarian action. A movement for children can only call itself that by continuing to ‘move’.
Who will keep that movement for children ‘moving’? All of us in the UNICEF family - current staff and former. In that spirit we are pleased to find that for the first time we are joined by many authors who are current staff. We count on them to keep us moving.
We hope that you will enjoy the stories our authors tell in this edition. More importantly, we hope you will share your own stories, your own angles on UNICEF’s history.
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Carol Bellamy, UNICEF Executive Director, 1995 to 2005
The ten years through which Carol Bellamy led UNICEF saw the promises of the CRC begin to turn into reality. In UNICEF this meant integrating rights throughout our programming and advocacy. The events of September 11th and the conflicts which preceded and followed that date presented constant challenges for children and UNICEF wherever we worked. There were the other challenges, as well - the Tsunami and the HIV / AIDS pandemic. On the positive side there was the World Conference on Women, the UN Special Session on Children, and the UN Millennium Development Goals.
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Ann Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director, 2005 to 2010
We hope to hear from her in the future and will then post her reflections.
Tony Lake looks back on his years with UNICEF, recalling the hard work and strong friendships that made the time so special for him. But most of all he recalls the children - their courage and their laughter, sometimes under terrible circumstances. He recalls the colleagues with whom he worked in those years - not just their hard work but also their skill and passion; how they were able to promote equity by showing that giving special focus to the children most in need was not just the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do - and how they brought the attention of groups like the World Bank to often neglected issues like early child development.
Off he went to Delhi, and then on to the districts in the state of Uttar Pradesh. And that is where he realized that he knew nothing. He had to completely reset his expectations and learn everything from scratch. As the then focal point for the interagency programme to eradicate Polio in India, Jonathan Veitch talks about how the teams managed to make the impossible possible, by combining science and imagination and developing schemes such as the brick kiln strategy, the railway strategy, or the Kosi River strategy. Eventually India managed to do what was once unthinkable…
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As a first time representative, Tony Bloomberg is catapulted into an unforeseen political crisis and must now navigate a proverbial minefield. Several hundred thousand lives of Sierra Leonean children were saved due to “out of the box” creative thinking and actions. Leading the charge to safeguard UNICEF’s resources donning his management-treasurer-IT hat, his team worked tirelessly to bring relief to this vulnerable population. Tony’s story is laced with subtle humor and sarcasm especially the “Colonel” episodes. He whole-heartedly acknowledges that this accomplishment is due to staff dedication and professionalism despite risks to their personal safety.
click here to read Tony’s spell-binding narrative
Ken Gibbs was in Erbil for the Oil-for-Food Programme, which also financed what became one of the largest UNICEF programmes at the time. While the conditions on the ground in Northern Iraq were difficult, Ken and colleagues helped to lighten the mood by issuing the periodic 'Erbil Burble' - a not-so-serious newsmagazine for the office. We include six issues of the burble in the article. Ken also gives us insights into some of the challenges of implementing the water and sanitation programme.
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Ramesh Shrestha became coordinator for the Oil-for-Food Programme in Erbil, in late 1997. Ramesh gives us an idea of the size of the programme, its many mysteries and controversies, the complications of its administration, - and the many obstructions and difficulties self-imposed by the UN system and the Sanctions Committee.
Of course, there were scary but also lighter moments...
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Marilena Viviani has been working for the UN in MENA and in Gaza since 1987. She pioneered the first UNICEF Emergency, Peace Education and psychosocial programmes in Burundi and Palestine. More recently she fostered humanitarian and global partnerships for children. Currently UNICEF Representative in Tunisia, Marilena reflects on notes written in 2009 while in MENA Regional Office, and how the conflicts have continued unabated affecting the wellbeing of children. She makes an appeal that this 75th Anniversary be an opportunity to create a truly child-friendly and inter-connected world by investing in Education and above all in Peace Education.
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Not many staff, let alone the general public, know that UNICEF has played a key role in protecting children from landmines, cluster munitions, small arms and light weapons. Paula Claycomb headed the Landmines and Small Arms Unit in Headquarters from 2005 to 2008. In this article Paula traces the history of UNICEF's involvement from 1992 in El Salvador up to today in countries like Ukraine. She tells us of the initial reluctance of senior staff to participate in international negotiations, but also how participation ultimately paid off by ensuring that children and adolescents were included in the final texts of the agreements.
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In the early 2000s, children were often recruited and trained as soldiers. UNICEF Uganda got to know of children that had been flown from Bunia in the DRC to Uganda for receiving military training. Karin Egge narrates how UNICEF managed to get the Government of Uganda to agree to release the children, how the office helped to care for the children and - eventually - arranged for their return in cooperation with the ICRC.
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When trying to respond effectively to emergencies, country offices - and the organization as a whole - faced many often conflicting demands that caused delays and complications. Frequently, emergency staff operated in a parallel universe to the regular staff in country offices. Moreover, delegation of authority to country offices made a corporate response less predictable. Nils Kastberg explains what was done, at the turn of the century, in the political and operational spheres, to make UNICEF a trusted partner that could mount a reliable response in any emergency situation.
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Gabriel Vockel reflects on a moment of hope, while trying to help to protect children, as entire communities were fleeing from violence, death, and destruction. Hundreds of thousands were on the move, looking for shelter, in eastern DRC. They left their houses and little belongings behind – to be plundered by the different armed groups involved, fighting over access, resources, power. As Gabriel is watching young boys in the dark night, huddling in the open but of unbroken spirit, he remains convinced that one has to lead a life of significance. Read on and look at his hauntingly beautiful photograph.
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Gianni Murzi engages the reader’s attention with wit and humour in recounting his experience as the first UNICEF Representative in Russia. The novelty of the strange political environment, the language, social systems, coupled with the modest UN presence presented challenges on several fronts. Working out of a cubicle in the UNHCR Office, Gianni is virtually the “All in One” and manages to set up an office, recruit staff and initiate meetings with the Government and explore partnerships. Read Gianni’s account of his memorable high-level encounters in his early months in Moscow which yield surprising unexpected outcomes.
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From September 2002 to November 2004, Bernt Aasen was Chief of OLS, UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator Southern Sector and UN observer to the IGAD sponsored peace negotiations. Bernt reflects on the difficult positioning of OLS, the justified and unjustified criticism of OLS, the controversies, and shortcomings. He concludes with the lessons learned related to humanitarian aid - which tend to be written up but not necessarily applied.
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Gloria Kodzwa shares the lessons learned by UNICEF from its initiatives for the release and reintegration of child soldiers. Drawing on her experience as Representative in Burundi, she highlights how advocacy and negotiations come with terms and conditions, when dealing with the rebel leaders. Gloria believes that UNICEF’s comparative advantage is its independence and its commitment to the rights of children, which propelled the successful outcomes. Her personal narrative about the uncertainties and risks involved by UNICEF in advocating for the release of ALL children is an illuminating and exciting read. The special farewell on her retirement is especially touching.
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In 1999, the Balkan Peninsula saw the biggest exodus ever, when more than half a million refugees were pushed across the border from Kosovo into Albania, one of the poorest countries in Europe at the time. Anila Miria recalls how UNICEF was among the first institutions to offer a concrete model, called Child-Friendly Spaces. Child-friendly spaces required work across traditional sectors, a totally new concept for Albania. Who knew that this would work?
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In 1997, the Ethiopian Government told UNICEF that its presence was no longer required and that UNICEF HQ should simply send a cheque over to Addis Ababa to support the approved country programme. Naturally, this caused quite a stir. Colin Davis remembers how he was asked to negotiate with the Ethiopian Government, and how persistent diplomacy helped UNICEF to continue its country presence.
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The Latin America and Caribbean region is not one which has been widely reported upon in our Newsletter. Fritz Lherisson explains the critical economic and other crises that affected the countries in the region in the 1980's and relates how UNICEF interventions, advocacy and coordination with other stakeholders assisted governments to mitigate adverse effects for vulnerable population, especially children. From CSD to social policy to CRC, concerted efforts of UNICEF were successful in changing the attitudes of governments and enabled the implementation of practical and effective programmes that materially improved the lives of millions. With his more than 21 years of service in the TACRO region, Fritz provides readers with a realistic and personalized account of these events.
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The Secretary General visited the Dominican Republic for just two days in August 2006. The focus was to be the country’s work on the MDGs. All arrangements for the visit were kept strictly confidential until the last minute. As the programme of the visit began to unfold, Tad Palac realised it was not going to be what he had expected! The video that a company had produced to show the collective effort of the UN team was not going to help inter-agency relations; and Tad was the star of the show....without ever having taken acting lessons...
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Fouad Kronfol reflects on what he terms the "Mother of all Missions”, for its complexity and challenges within the context of UNICEF’s emerging role in the aftermath of the breakup of the USSR and Yugoslavia. The mission covered 22 capitals. Its outcome was reorganisation of the erstwhile five Area Offices and the Regional Office in the CEE/CIS region. Read how Fouad’s perceptive conclusions resulted in the restructuring, with a robust setup in the Regional Office and 21 country offices in Europe and Central Asia region (as it has been renamed). Do not miss Fouad's interesting itinerary of this "personally gratifying" mission.
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Gloria Kodzwa highlights the challenges that UNICEF encountered in the newly independent countries in Eastern and Southern Africa with disrupted economies and poor infrastructure. The human tragedy of the return of displaced communities, child soldiers and their reintegration into society had to be reckoned with in the reconstruction process. Gloria cites her experience in Mozambique to recount how UNICEF supported countries to build infrastructure for health and education. Negotiations with new governments on development priorities was equally challenging. Read how UNICEF managed with their limited capacity to address the burgeoning needs of children and communities and how it mobilized other UN agencies and international NGOs.
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The internal audit functions within the UN organizations underwent a noticeable development in the first ten years after the turn of the century. The “Oil-for-Food scandal” had triggered several management reform initiatives within the UN and UNICEF, including reforms for ethical conduct; strengthening internal oversight and accountability; reviewing budgetary, financial, and human resources policies; and reviewing mandates. OIA also introduced programme management audits, whose purpose was to identify risks to the achievement of the objectives of country office workplans and programmes. An investigation function was established to investigate misconduct and harassment. Read here an account of the major changes to UNICEF oversight, by Claus Andreasen.
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“A Culture Advisor? What in the world is that?” Geeta Narayan soon finds out, as she has to deal with questions such as: Would employees think that it is worth to speak up and out was worth it? Would managers think it would disempower them from making tough decisions? One thing was sure: UNICEF had to go there. Read Geeta's account on how racism and discrimination is giving way to diversity and inclusion, who the 'Humans of UNICEF' are, and how her team keeps checking the pulse on UNICEF's workplace culture.
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Nobody knew what anyone else was doing. In the summer of 1997, Ellen Yaffe tasked a small army of 16 staff members headed by Lily Vuong, to organize the first ever UNICEF Open Forum. Ellen Collins remembers some of the highlights in her work for UNICEF, also for a section called SPPME, where 'it seemed that every Board document and guideline and directive either originated or received their clearance here'. Ellen also fondly recalls her time with the young interns from Columbia University, and is going to forever cherish the time where also she helped the interns 'to get ready for the world'.
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It was a long bus ride from Victoria Station to Zagreb in Croatia. Benjamin Perks spent the trip crammed in with migrant workers, returning students and endless conversations. It was the perfect introduction to the region, where the wars were raging and the images of families, children, elderly people under siege or fleeing as refugees were making headline news daily. Still being young, and in his own small way, Ben wanted to somehow do something. He worked as a volunteer and eventually joined UNICEF. He later returned to the region as UNICEF representative to Montenegro.
click here to follow Ben on his incredible ride
Prompted by excitement and curiosity, we ask endless questions when we encounter someone who has lived in or traveled to a remote area or “closed” societies especially where the flow of information is stymied. Our own XUNICEFer, Richard Bridle, in his riveting narrative, raises PDRK’s curtain to offer a glimpse of life there. Against a backdrop of mistrust, traps and unforeseen challenges, he learns how to navigate a bureaucratic and complex system to accomplish UNICEF’s agenda – some if not all of it. He underscores the value of reading and listening. Indulging in “vices” of smoking and drinking (albeit risky to personal health and well-being) also offer a pathway forward. Despite it all, Richard is ready to do it again!
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While reading the newspaper, on a morning in April 1994, Enedlsy (Nelly) Escobar-King saw the images of a tragedy in the making - thousands of Rwandese people moving towards the Tanzanian border, fleeing the genocide. Her son, who had never seen such images before, began to ask questions; difficult questions about what UNICEF and the UN are doing about it. These remain difficult questions until today; and Nelly wonders whether the world is ever going to learn.
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Lou Mendez shares some humorous anecdotes of work in the inter-agency reform arena, where he learned about the perception of progress; from managing the BCU (ever wondered what this was?); and from helping out UNICEF after retirement during the emergency operation after Typhoon Haiyan had hit the Philippines.
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Juan Aguilar shares his professional and personal journey in these final two chapters of life with UNICEF. Against a backdrop of a warm and hospitable population, Juan describes his strategies to sensitively incorporate and once even courageously and publicly advocate for human rights in Myanmar, the indignities of which he had never encountered elsewhere. He steps into Nicaragua, still teetering from the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Undaunted, Juan swiftly immerses himself to implement UNICEF’s country programme and collaboratively work with the UN to coordinate the HIV/AIDS programme. His wife, Ines, like many other spouses of UNICEF staff members makes her contribution to UNICEF’s mission.
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Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director, 2010 to 2017
Click here to read UNICEF recollections by Anthony Lake
The events of recent weeks have required the full attention of Executive Director Henrietta Fore. Her office, however, has confirmed that she plans to share with us in the near future her reflections on these extraordinary years as Executive Director. In the meantime, we are reprinting here Ms. Fore’s opening remarks to the September session of the Executive Board. We feel it provides an excellent overview of these past three and a half years. We are sorry to see ED Fore leave us, but wish her and her family all the best in coming years. We also trust that she will soon join us as a member of XUNICEF, as have her predecessors, Carol Bellamy and Tony Lake.
click here to read Henrietta Fore's speech
Some 50,000 USD may not be much in a country programme with an annual budget of 30 million Dollar. Kari Egge recalls how this small donation helped to put Article 7 of the CRC into practical use.
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Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, 2018 to 2021
click here to read Henrietta Fore's speech
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Right From the Start
Read what it took the office to pioneer a community-based birth registration system in Uganda, how to overcome some of the challenges in a complex administration, and how to make it a success story.
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UNICEF with partners has been constantly engaged in raising awareness about female genital cutting, which in many communities is believed to be good for their daughters. Even in present times, many people are unaware about the life-long psychological and health complications that a circumcised girl or woman undergoes. In this heartbreaking story, Nuzhat Shahzadi brings forward the voices of girls and women who have undergone circumcision. She also presents the regional package that was developed under her guidance to engage communities to begin a healthy dialogue on FGC.
Who or what is GARIMA? Another UNICEF alphabet soup to whet your appetite! Read Niloufar Pourzand’s fascinating narrative on GARIMA and its far reaching impact on thousands of adolescent girls in rural Uttar Pradesh, India. A taboo topic since medieval times – but a powerful message that empowered these girls to become path-breakers. With their newly acquired self-confidence and voices, these adolescent women took on many “Goliaths”. They successfully changed some critical societal norms to allow them human dignity. A few of these young women subsequently assumed leadership positions in their communities. It is heart-warming to see tangible and successful outcomes thanks to UNICEF’s interventions.
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Things can Change
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Where There Is a Will
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Jim Ackers had his first taste of UNICEF in 2001. He joined as a staff member in 2003, when he was busy at the University of London Institute of Education. He had to make a difficult personal choice. A knowledgeable friend told him: “UNICEF is a really nice organization, but it thinks with its heart and not its head”. But Jim saw the opportunity, became UNICEF’s Chief of Education in Nigeria and together with Cream Wright, helped to move UNICEF’s education programmes in the right direction. Jim remains convinced that UNICEF must continue to be the global agency that touches hearts, but must also maintain its strategic leadership and role as convener of decisions makers.
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In the mid 1990s two seemingly unrelated issues were gaining traction in UNICEF: new country programmes in the former Eastern Bloc, and the impact of HIV on children, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite these different origins, both involved responding to risks associated with child poverty and loss of parental care, and helped create demand for what we now know as child-sensitive social protection. So how exactly did we get there? Having worked with UNICEF on HIV and social policy in Mozambique and Zimbabwe and then on alternative care in NYHQ, Alex Yuster had a front row seat and a hand in bringing all this together.
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For years the children and their families in Uganda suffered the consequences of armed conflicts, and HIV/AIDS. In this article, Nuzhat Shahzadi narrates how UNICEF involved young people through various group processes for their empowerment. At the same time she shares her personal experiences regarding the atrocities of LRA in Northern Uganda ––abduction, killing and sexual exploitation of children; forcing children to commit violence against their own people; and the rituals practiced by the communities for reconciliation of children who escaped from the LRA camps.
Mahboob Shareef vividly recalls his tumultuous and at times hazardous and obstacle-filled path to serve the critical needs of women and children in UNICEF Afghanistan. A country riding on the waves of constant political upheaval over the last several decades had a critical and adverse impact on a vulnerable population. The challenges of bringing immunization and basic education including clandestine teaching of girls placed one’s life in peril. Despite the formidable programmatic and political challenges from 1994 to the early 2000s, Shareef remains firm that this was the best chapter of life with UNICEF.
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Thinking with the Heart or the Head?
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The Rise and Rise of Social Protection
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The Uganda Chronicles
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A Never Ending Challenge
click here to read Shareef’s article
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"Keep Going, Mate"
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Precarious Cross-Border Operations
click here to read Tony’s spell-binding narrative
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The Erbil Burble
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The Monolopy Game
Of course, there were scary but also lighter moments...
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Arsenic Poisoning
Soon after Shahida Afzar took up her assignment as Representative, Bangladesh in 1998, she was confronted with the situation of wide spread arsenic poisoning in ground water. When the news broke, it sent shock waves not just within Bangladesh but all over the world. UNICEF was named as being responsible, since UNICEF had installed a million handpumps to provide safe drinking water soon after the country’s independence. The challenge was two fold: UNICEF had to protect its reputation and quickly find a solution to this hitherto unknown phenomenon. Read Shahida’s account of the steps taken, and how UNICEF through its partnerships with the Government, national NGOs and donors managed to avert a national disaster and emerged as being part of the solution.
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More Humanity for Children
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A Lesser Known Programme
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The Boy Who Wanted to Fly
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Core Commitments
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Master Class in Hope
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Pillow Talk in Moscow
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Peace Negotiations
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Reintegrating Child Soldiers
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The Kosovo Crisis in Albania
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To Stay or Not to Stay
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A Complex Legacy
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The Evolving Engagement
Because of their growing GDP, many developing countries have been moving to middle-income and even high-income status. In 2008, the Executive Board adjusted its policy, to extend the eligibility for UNICEF assistance to even upper-middle-income countries. Sandie Blanchet reflects on the continuing need for UNICEF support, and the challenges for UNICEF offices in those countries to remain relevant. Having been UNICEF Representative in Romania from 2012 to 2017, she explains how to refocus the work of UNICEF to leverage national policies and budgets, to develop complex and often political partnerships, and how to organize technical assistance that can make a real contribution..
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Since the turn of the Millennium, UNICEF got caught up in the relentless campaign by the United Nations for greater coherence. Detlef Palm remembers how the first proposals for better coordination were made, and what came of it. When it was first conceived, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) was not to exceed four easy-to-read pages … until, on higher orders, it began to live a life of its own. In the course of events, National Execution (NEX), the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) and Delivering-as-One (DaO) became the staple of UN operations.
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UNDAF Gone Wrong
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Kofi Annan comes to Town
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Reform or Re-form?
Is UNICEF, as an organization, amenable to change? Fouad Kronfol examines this issue within the backdrop of four major management studies undertaken by UNICEF. In his analysis, Fouad positions the studies and their findings against the evolving priorities of the organization and its leadership. Read his conclusions on the impact and effectiveness of the findings of the studies and whether their outcomes met the expectations of UNICEF and its staff in general. Having served , in his words, as the ‘sherpa’ of the Booz Allen study in 1994 and from his vast UNICEF experience, his insights and introspective perspective will resonate with many readers, while leaving room for much reflection.
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Reshaping the CEE / CIS / Baltics Region
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Post War Reconstruction
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Building Independent Oversight
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The Culture Journey
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Behind the Scenes
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Getting on that Bus
click here to follow Ben on his incredible ride
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You've lived in North Korea?
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Will the World Ever Learn?
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Three Snippets
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"My dedication to development work, to human rights and to influencing change in the lives of children and young people was totally satisfied as a UNICEF staff member" says Christine Norton. For her, the perspectives of children and young people and their unique experiences remained a constant motivating factor. Follow Christine, as she recalls episodes from her work in the Philippines, Thailand, Guyana and in the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro. She also learned that it was possible to be evidence-based, results-oriented, rights-based and gender-sensitive, if one takes the time to observe, listen to voices of boys and girls and make it fun.
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Orieta (Ori) Pilku has been with UNICEF Albania for 25 years, always in the same position, even though her job title did change a few times. She remembers how she joined UNICEF when Albania was ravaged by civil war and the Kosovo crisis, and what it meant to her. She worked with six different Representatives so far, and also with the offices of Ministers, Prime Ministers, Presidents, Ambassadors and celebrities. To Ori, UNICEF has become a second home.
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Every senior UNICEF official is going to make an important speech some day. Speechmaking is part of the business of many UNICEF staff. For some, making a speech holds terror, others enjoy it and take it in stride.
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What Children Taught Me
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My Second Home
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The Speech
Colin Davis remembers one particular occasion, that may resonate with many of us.
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Ivan Donoso wants to share an experience especially for young or recently joined staff members, from his time in Kosovo. Ivan had been asked to help rebuild the Kosovo UNICEF office, that had been burned and looted.
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We All are UNICEF
When he went, he found many surprises, and discovered that one needs to speak up, regardless of position and hierarchy, to get things right.
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UNICEF has come of age and needs a new vision. There is much to take stock in terms of achievements, and there is the need to relate it to the future. It has been a long journey since the CSDR days, which paved the way towards formalizing our commitment to child rights through legislation and ratification of the CRC. The children we protected are the adolescents and youth of today. They need to be empowered in turn to take control and shape the destiny for their future, in peace and through sustainable development. Gautam Banerji tries to capture this unfolding narrative, and shares his views of how to breathe new life into UNICEF's commitment to children.
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Gautam's Vision
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From Yangon to Managua
Click here to read Juan’s story.
No doubt there were many such rides during this era. However a must read is Jim Mayrides priceless tale as he humorously recounts a visit to Guatemala by one of UNICEF’s Executive Directors. He offers us glimpses of the serious, unflappable, practical and yet funny side of this indomitable personality. From rusty which quickly morphs into fluent Spanish spoken passionately even in the presence of the President of Guatemala to sipping a pint of beer atop a suitcase says a lot! That’s not all. You must read the final “hiccup” on this otherwise historic trip which earned UNICEF a Presidential Award.
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Sivaram Raghavan walks us through his UNICEF journey which began in 1988. From the now obsolete electric typewriter to smartphones and laptops, he cautions that this fast paced technology that is at our fingertip in a second should facilitate but not rule our lives. He derived immeasurable joy and satisfaction from his direct work with UNICEF’s Tsunami emergency. From this experience he concludes that complete fulfilment in UNICEF’s work can only be achieved if one can personally experience on the ground program implementation. Sivaram ends his piece on a high note of optimism that UNICEF will run stronger, faster with younger staff to reach its 100th anniversary.
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A Roller Coaster Ride
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Then and Now
Click here to read more of Sivaram Raghavan’s story.
Why make the daily trip to the office, when you can throw on sweatpants, switch on the laptop and turn your kitchen table into your office? Working from home is now as normal as Mondayitis and casual Fridays and still essential as the world continues to grapple with the pandemic. Recently retired, Tim Sutton makes compost, cooks meals, does school drop offs and pickups, vacuums, does the shopping and the gardening. And he realizes that he barely recognized or acknowledged the demands on partners and families who live with someone who is working from home...
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At home for UNICEF
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Author's Index
Find Authors and their work in our in our Author's Index**********
Finally
What’s Next? In fact, that is exactly what we, your editors, are asking in our next edition of the Quarterly planned for the end of December. We want your ideas on ‘What’s Next?’ for UNICEF and for the world’s children from 2022 to 2050. What challenges will we need to face? What opportunities will open?
What’s Missing? We also want to include in the December edition any pieces you feel we missed in our coverage of the past 75 years. Please go back to our March and June editions, in addition to this September edition, and fill in the gaps you find there.
Linking Our Yesterdays, Todays and Tomorrows’. We might think of the December Quarterly as a ‘wrap-up’ of our coverage of UNICEF’s 75th year - an opportunity to pull together the many threads of the past 75 and the coming 25 years. Here we will need, in particular, contributions of current staff to help us shape our vision of the future, based on the realities of the present.
We hope that you enjoyed reading these articles by the authors who contributed to this edition of the Quarterly. We also hope you will give them your comments.
This is not just UNICEF’s history - it is our history. Only we can tell it well. Help us keep our history alive. Reflect, write, and record your stories, our stories, the story of UNICEF and children..
Thanks. Stay well and keep in touch.
Your volunteer editors at News & Views
Sree Gururaja
Fouad Kronfol
Doreen Lobo
Tom McDermott
Gianni Murzi
Detlef Palm
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Lorena,
17 - Bacau, Romania
Voices of Youth - Drawings by Children and Youth in a time of Coronavirus
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