The special issue of LINK,UPGI newsletter to commemorate 75 years of UNICEF in India was launched on 18 January 2025 at UNICEF office,New Delhi. I am attaching a brief report on the same.
With warm regards
Girija Devi
Dhirendra Asthana,President UPGI opened the meeting by narrating the series of discussions UPGI had with the Editorial team and the Executive Committee(EC) on the way forward in carrying out this initiative. The idea of preparing a compendium originally emerged from a discussion with Tom McDermott and Sree Gururaja during a meeting of the Global Staff Association in 2024 which was enthusiastically endorsed at the UPGI Annual General Body Meeting on 15th June 2024. Members were requested to contribute articles narrating their experiences and stories about their journey with UNICEF. The EC took a decision to price this high quality publication in order to cover the costs of printing . So requests were made to members to send in contributions if they desired a printed copy. The digital version of the Special Issue in any case would also be made available to all members of UPGI.
Cynthia McCaffrey , in her address to the gathering of attending retirees congratulated UPGI in bringing out this publication offering glimpses of the highlights of UNICEF in India through the decades ,its growth which have been acclaimed globally by partners, governments, fundraising committees and more lovingly by the women and children of this beautiful and diverse country. She said that, UNICEF was with India’s goals for children and women and will continue to be in future too. As UNICEF India reviews the urgency for progress with our partners ,she said we are positioned well because the foundation is strong and also the expectations are high. She enthusiastically autographed copies of this publication for many retirees thrilled by her remarks.
Zafrin Chowdhury , Chief, CAP in her soft gentle style in her remarks admitted that she was awed by the magnitude and depth of UNICEF mission in India. She said in her previous duty station, UNICEF was visible everywhere through posters, publicity materials but when she came to India, she realized that UNICEF was evident everywhere in the results achieved for women and children, in the ethos of the staff and close partnerships with government counterparts and civil society.
A video was screened put together by the CPAP Section based on archival photographs, materials and documents sourced from former staff, websites and library tracing the history of UNICEF.
Krishna Mahapatra Editor in Chief LINK and Sree Gururaja, Editor LINK gave us a peep into the strenuous process that went into compilation, vetting, editing and printing of the many articles and photographs received from former Representatives and retirees who had served in India.
The session was then opened to the members present to share their thoughts, memories, reminisces, joy and challenges faced during their tenures. The work and home life balance, the strong bonds of cooperation and partnerships forged with government counterparts and role of staff and senior managements was touched upon.
This special issue of LINK is a priced publication of 166 pages beautifully produced with rare, sepia tinted but valuable photographs tracing the history. The back page of this publication carries the commemorative postage stamp on” UNICEF @ 75 with India” issued by the Department of Posts, Government of India on 11 December 2024. The e- LINK of the publication will also be available for all UPGI members.
We hope this will be a prized publication and serve as a resource for future generations of the UNICEF family.
Girija Devi
Launch of 'The Journey' - A Special Issue of LINK
18 January 2025 will go down as a memorable day in the history of UNICEF India as Cynthia McCaffrey, Representative India, released a Special issue of LINK “ The Journey”, the signature newsletter of UPGI ( UNICEF Pensioners Group- India) at the UNICEF premises, commemorating this journey through the decades.Dhirendra Asthana,President UPGI opened the meeting by narrating the series of discussions UPGI had with the Editorial team and the Executive Committee(EC) on the way forward in carrying out this initiative. The idea of preparing a compendium originally emerged from a discussion with Tom McDermott and Sree Gururaja during a meeting of the Global Staff Association in 2024 which was enthusiastically endorsed at the UPGI Annual General Body Meeting on 15th June 2024. Members were requested to contribute articles narrating their experiences and stories about their journey with UNICEF. The EC took a decision to price this high quality publication in order to cover the costs of printing . So requests were made to members to send in contributions if they desired a printed copy. The digital version of the Special Issue in any case would also be made available to all members of UPGI.
Cynthia McCaffrey , in her address to the gathering of attending retirees congratulated UPGI in bringing out this publication offering glimpses of the highlights of UNICEF in India through the decades ,its growth which have been acclaimed globally by partners, governments, fundraising committees and more lovingly by the women and children of this beautiful and diverse country. She said that, UNICEF was with India’s goals for children and women and will continue to be in future too. As UNICEF India reviews the urgency for progress with our partners ,she said we are positioned well because the foundation is strong and also the expectations are high. She enthusiastically autographed copies of this publication for many retirees thrilled by her remarks.
Zafrin Chowdhury , Chief, CAP in her soft gentle style in her remarks admitted that she was awed by the magnitude and depth of UNICEF mission in India. She said in her previous duty station, UNICEF was visible everywhere through posters, publicity materials but when she came to India, she realized that UNICEF was evident everywhere in the results achieved for women and children, in the ethos of the staff and close partnerships with government counterparts and civil society.
A video was screened put together by the CPAP Section based on archival photographs, materials and documents sourced from former staff, websites and library tracing the history of UNICEF.
Krishna Mahapatra Editor in Chief LINK and Sree Gururaja, Editor LINK gave us a peep into the strenuous process that went into compilation, vetting, editing and printing of the many articles and photographs received from former Representatives and retirees who had served in India.
The session was then opened to the members present to share their thoughts, memories, reminisces, joy and challenges faced during their tenures. The work and home life balance, the strong bonds of cooperation and partnerships forged with government counterparts and role of staff and senior managements was touched upon.
This special issue of LINK is a priced publication of 166 pages beautifully produced with rare, sepia tinted but valuable photographs tracing the history. The back page of this publication carries the commemorative postage stamp on” UNICEF @ 75 with India” issued by the Department of Posts, Government of India on 11 December 2024. The e- LINK of the publication will also be available for all UPGI members.
We hope this will be a prized publication and serve as a resource for future generations of the UNICEF family.
Thanks Tom, I would also like to add that the contributions forspecial issue of LINK received are voluntary in nature. We are grateful to many UPGI members for this gesture.
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