I have been reading this thread with interest. Having not been on the staff of UNICEF for very long, as compared to the my 25 odd years of service as an 'independent', I cashed in the modest pension fund I had accumulated when I resigned. However, thanks to my career in the international system and my lack of dependents, I am also relatively well off. Regrettably, not enough to come to many XUNICEF reunions, especially in non-European parts! I suggest, Thomas, that you set up a charitable fund (I have a small Trust of this kind) to make small grants to projects and programmes for disadvantaged children and women -- or whatever corner or version of the UNICEF mission you prefer. My trust, which was set up some time ago, focuses on young people's creative development which is also essential for personal development but in those days was ignored -- less so nowadays: arts, journalistic workshops, circus, photography, sports competitions, cookery contests, mentoring, etc -- things in the cracks of other programmes. To begin with when I was still travelling a lot, grants went to overseas organisations, but in recent years they have all been to local charities. It is rewarding to be in a small way directly involved in people's efforts to improve the lives of children from violent families, refugee or asylum families, children alienated from school, and hear about them flourishing in art classes, music competitions etc, adding significantly to my 'retired' life.
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I have been reading this thread with interest. Having not been on the staff of UNICEF for very long, as compared to the my 25 odd years of service as an 'independent', I cashed in the modest pension fund I had accumulated when I resigned. However, thanks to my career in the international system and my lack of dependents, I am also relatively well off. Regrettably, not enough to come to many XUNICEF reunions, especially in non-European parts! I suggest, Thomas, that you set up a charitable fund (I have a small Trust of this kind) to make small grants to projects and programmes for disadvantaged children and women -- or whatever corner or version of the UNICEF mission you prefer. My trust, which was set up some time ago, focuses on young people's creative development which is also essential for personal development but in those days was ignored -- less so nowadays: arts, journalistic workshops, circus, photography, sports competitions, cookery contests, mentoring, etc -- things in the cracks of other programmes. To begin with when I was still travelling a lot, grants went to overseas organisations, but in recent years they have all been to local charities. It is rewarding to be in a small way directly involved in people's efforts to improve the lives of children from violent families, refugee or asylum families, children alienated from school, and hear about them flourishing in art classes, music competitions etc, adding significantly to my 'retired' life.
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