Queen’s Baton spends Christmas with children in Vanuatu photo story

The holiday season in Vanuatu was even more special with the visit of the Queen’s Baton Relay over the Christmas break.

Queen’s Baton spends Christmas with children in Vanuatu

A small girl in one of the villages
welcomes the Queen Baton Relay

The holiday season in Vanuatu was even more special with the visit of the Queen’s Baton Relay over the Christmas break. The Baton Relay is currently taking place around the world in the lead up to the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and has recently finished its leg of the journey through the Pacific.  UNICEF is the charity partner of the Commonwealth Games, providing a great opportunity to focus on the children of Commonwealth countries, highlighting what a contemporary Commonwealth country looks like and the dreams and lives of the children that live in them. Vanuatu was the last Pacific country to host the baton. But it was not just a relay that was held in honour of the visit – there was also a UNICEF-supported fun event held in Port Vila for children and their families to highlight the importance of play and sport in children’s development and learning. This is an issue of critical importance in Vanuatu due to challenges children face in accessing quality care and education.

Five Questions with Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative

The Kiribati Family Health Association youth group with Karen Allen 
UNICEF Pacific Representative and UNICEF Colleague 
© UNICEF Pacific/2013/Teannaki

Running for WASH in Solomon Islands

UNICEF Pacific/2013/Atenia Tahu
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In 2014, Glasgow, Scotland will host the XX Commonwealth Games with UNICEF as the charity partner. To kick off the lead-up to the Games, the Queen’s Baton Relay is taking place – the baton travels to all of the Commonwealth countries around the globe. As the baton travels through each country, it is a great opportunity to talk about the lives and aspirations of children and youth around the world. The baton has arrived in the Pacific and last week visited the Solomon Islands. UNICEF staff took part in the Baton Relay through Honiara and here Communications for Development Officer Atenia Tahu shares his experience of the relay.

Doing our part in Disaster Preparedness

By Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative

Girl paddling canoe, Malaita © UNICEF Pacific/2013/Allen

The UN, Governments, and NGOs are all about Disaster Preparedness these days, and rightly so. "Get Ready. Disasters Happen" is the slogan for a UNICEF Pacific disaster preparedness package of assistance to disaster prone areas.

Last week I was in the Solomon Islands talking to people involved with disaster preparedness and response. While impressed with our systems and knowledge for disaster risk mitigation, I was also reminded that we have to recognize the limits and really commit to helping people quickly and effectively when disaster strikes. Jacob, a UNICEF WASH staff, told me,

Celebration of Global hand Washing Day ( GHWD) in Kiribati: The Power is in your hands!

The Global Hand Washing Day 15 October, 2013 celebration was held at the KNYC Maneaba in Bairiki. The programme was organized under the leadership of MPWU and MOH through joint partnership with MoE, MELAD, MISA, UNICEF, SMEC and KAP II. It was a combined and integrated effort of the GHWD celebration committee from government and WASH partners, to make the day a very meaningful and memorable. The GHWD programme is organized for the second time in Kiribati but for the first time through partnership with government and WASH partners. The Kiriwatsan I has taken initial coordination role among partners for the celebration .

Ending violence in Paradise

By Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative

Wan Smol Bag youth theater wall
© UNICEF Pacific/2013/Allen

I visited Vanuatu this week  –surely a top runner in any contest for paradise on earth. Everywhere I go there is a beautiful vista – blue lagoons and ocean, sunny sky, stunning waterfalls and clear pools in lush and verdant forests.

Removing the "dis" from ability

By Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative

School for Disabled Children in Tarawa performed songs and dances with great glee.
© UNICEF Pacific/2013/Allen

Facilities are simple but school spirit is high at the School for Disabled Children in Tarawa. Each of the classrooms has caring teachers, and each class is carefully organised according to needs and learning levels of children. There is so much demand, that one class of older children, is in a rough storage shelter, but this does not dim the enthusiasm of the visually impaired and mute learners, who, I discovered, are very good artists. In other classrooms children were learning to read and type in Braille, singing songs, working out math problems, and learning how to get maximum use of legs and arms affected by cerebral palsy. Every child gets a nourishing meal, every school day, and there are health screening visits, too. Sadly, sometimes they reveal abuse.

Safe haven for abuse victims of Kiribati

By Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative

Welcome cake and song by on of the nuns in the women's crisis centre
© UNICEF Pacific/2013/Teannaki

The world can be a cruel place. Women and children in particular are victims of domestic violence and other abuse. We can thank a singing nun in Kiribati that they have a place to go to for help. A group of Catholic nuns runs the Crisis Management Centre, with support from various partners including UNICEF. A clean dormitory, with mattresses on the ground and a communal kitchen, a small yard and a children's room, and, importantly, a room for prayer and counselling make up the crisis centre.

Talking about the bees and birds in Kiribati

By Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative

The Kiribati Family Health Association youth group with Karen Allen
UNICEF Pacific Representative and UNICEF Colleague
© UNICEF Pacific/2013/Teannaki

The Kiribati Family Health Association is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation affiliated with the International Planned Parenthood Federation. They are also supported by UNICEF for HIV and AIDS testing, counselling and prevention. After touring the modest but very well organised facilities and meeting some of the 11 service providers, I had great fun watching the peer educators demonstrate their infotainment routines.

Fiji Hibiscus Festival 2013

UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO hosted the UN Tent at the 2013 Fiji Hibiscus Festival. With free face painting, coloring, balloons as well as a Quiz every hour. Making an appearance was UNICEF Pacific Youth Ambassador Merewalesi Nailatikau.

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UNICEF youth mediactivist

Youth ambassador Merewalesi Nailatikau with students in Fiji
© UNICEF Pacific/2012/Hing

Are you a writer, a photographer, social media guru, or just someone with a passion to help others? Sign up now to join the Youth Media Volunteers Network in the Pacific Region to produce empowering, engaging and effective youth led media.

UNICEF Pacific is committed to identifying and exploring opportunities for empowerment of young people to produce youth led media that is for, with and about young people.

Young Pacific islanders to envision the future they want at "My World, My SIDS: YES"

Thirty young Pacific islanders aged from 12 to 30 years old gathered in Nadi Fiji Islands to discuss issues close to their heart and envision the future they want.

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The State of the World’s Children 2013: Children with Disabilities

In the Pacific, The State of the World’s Children 2013: Children with Disabilities report was launched by Minister Counsellor, Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Mr. John Davidson, who emphasized the importance of mainstreaming disability across all development. In thanking him, UNICEF Pacific Representative, Dr Isiye Ndombi said “children with disabilities have the same rights as all children, including the right to be recognized and provided with the same opportunities to flourish enjoyed by others. However, they are too often invisible—in statistics, in policies, in societies.”

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One Talk 4 All - Youth Media for Children

Production of “award-winning” international-standard media productions for children, families and communities!

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"LIFE" (special matinee for children)

350 school children from Fiji today witnessed a special performance by the 2012 Tadra Kahani winners and the premiere of a new dance performance "LIFE". Performed by Oceania Dance Theatre in Suva, "LIFE" weaves together different stories depicting how we relate to one another and connect and communicate to create the world we live in. Creative arts use song, dance and visuals to tell stories and engage people to talk about issues that affect us all. LIKE if you agree that ALL children should have access to creative arts.

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Children below the line

Below the Line project photographs by : Vineeta Foundation

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Voice Blong Mi

A collection of photographs taken by young people from Vanuatu, capturing the life stories of youths who have dropped out of school and highlighting the issue of teenage pregnancy. These photographs were exhibited at the launch of the State of the Pacific Youth Report, in New Zealand.

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The Kiribati OneMinutesJnrs

The Kiribati OneMinutesJnrs. Watch the situations, challenges and opportunities facing children and youth in the pacific.

Kiribati OneMinutesJr Photo Story

TARAWA, Kiribati, 29 May 2012 - Sixteen boys and girls from the Republic of Kiribati have come together on Tarawa Island today to start a five-day video workshop on issues concerning them and their future. The workshop is part of the international UNICEF-supported OneMinutesJr project and will generate up to twenty 60-second-films on topics ranging from climate change to domestic violence, teenage pregnancy and education.

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