Woman Hugging Baby

For Every Child, Hope — a Thank You to Our Supporters

As the new year begins, we are deeply appreciative of the supporters — contributing from far and wide — who make UNICEF's work possible. And we celebrate the profoundly important and impactful work we are doing together: that of saving and protecting children.

For over 70 years, UNICEF has been the defender of children around the world, regardless of gender, religion, race or economic background. When the world’s most vulnerable need a champion in the face of conflict, disease or exclusion, UNICEF has been there.

The world has changed, but children’s needs have not. Children must have access to basic services, be safe, be nurtured — and have the support of loving caregivers. Meet some of these caregivers, and learn how your support of UNICEF made a difference to families like theirs throughout 2016.

 

Silhouette of Mother and Child

© UNICEF 2016/UN037442/Gilbertson VII Photo

 

In a refugee shelter in Mariendorf, Berlin, Germany, Amira Raslan comforts her son Amr, 7, after their harrowing journey from the Syrian Arab Republic. UNICEF works with migrant and refugee families and also with host communities, to promote the social inclusion of refugee children. For every child, community.

Two People Laying in the Grass

© UNICEF 2016/UN038640/Pirozzi

 

Mariam, 7, lies in the grass with her mother at Boghossian Gardens, Yerevan, Armenia. The little girl, who has cerebral palsy, dreams of becoming a singer or a doctor. UNICEF promotes accessible and inclusive learning spaces for all children. For every child, education.

Imizamu Yethu Township

© UNICEF 2016/UN025503/Schermbrucker

 

A woman embraces her daughter in the early morning light outside of their shack in Imizamu Yethu Township, South Africa. UNICEF works with governments around the world to provide maternal and child healthcare. For every child, health.

 

Woman Holding Baby

© UNICEF 2016/UN034425/Rich

 

Eliza kisses her baby, Jal Puok, 1, at the Mercy Hospital, Juba, South Sudan. UNICEF provides life-saving treatment to hundreds of thousands of children like Jal Puok each year. In 2016, over 180,000 children were treated for severe acute malnutrition in South Sudan alone. For every child, nutrition.

Woman Holding Child Against Shoulder

© UNICEF 2016/UN027716/Al-Issa

 

A mother shelters with her child at the Teshreen kindergarten in Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic. In 2016, 436,000 children and adults were reached with UNICEF child protection and psychosocial support programmes in the Syrian Arab Republic. For every child, safety.

Women Hugging with Water

© UNICEF 2016/UN026654/Everett

 

Angelina Nyangang Gattiek (centre), 15, cries upon reuniting with her mother (left), who laughs with joy as they embrace at the Protection of Civilians site near Juba, South Sudan. UNICEF and its partners have helped thousands of families reunite. For every child, love.

Women and Children Surrounded by Smoke

© UNICEF 2016/UN040092/Romenzi

 

Escaping from conflict in Mosul, a mother and two children walk past a checkpoint in Qayyara, Iraq. UNICEF provides emergency assistance to displaced families. For every child, help.

Two Women Sitting in Front of Pool

© UNICEF 2016/UN033157/LeMoyne

 

Sandra sits on a diving board with her daughter, Sandriely, 15, a champion swimmer. UNICEF helps children reach their full potential with progammes for children with disabilities, like Sandra. For every child, play.

Woman Holding Child

© UNICEF 2016/UN041144/Fuad

 

Malkah Ahmed Saleh rests with her daughter in a makeshift shelter in the Tharawan camp for internally displaced persons on the outskirts of Sana’a, Yemen. UNICEF provides basic social services to the most vulnerable. In 2016, 390,000 children received psychosocial support in Yemen. For every child, a fair chance.

Person hugging child

© UNICEF 2016/UN033157/LeMoyne

 

Alishia Gentle, 3, gets a hug from her aunt and caretaker, Tracy Moody, in Belize City, Belize. UNICEF supports young children with funding for early childhood development programmes. For every child, a fair start.

Woman and Child in Tent

© UNICEF 2016/UN012799/Georgiev

 

In a tent in a camp for migrants and refugees in Idomeni, Greece, a mother feeds her child. UNICEF works with governments to ensure the fundamental rights of the child are respected. For every child, care.

Minawao refugee camp

© UNICEF 2016/UN015787/Prinsloo

 

In Minawao refugee camp in northern Cameroon, Fati (named changed), 15, hugs her mother Mariam (left) while carrying her little sister. UNICEF works to provide shelter for refugees fleeing conflict in northern Nigeria and elsewhere. For every child, dignity.

Woman Washing Baby

© UNICEF 2016/UN030727/Zehbrauskas

 

Sara Dinora Ramos, from Honduras, bathes her baby girl April, 4 months, at the Senda de Vida shelter in Reynosa, Mexico. UNICEF works to protect migrants like the Ramos family by advocating for their rights throughout their journey. For every child, clean water.

Woman Holding Baby

©UNICEF/UN025191/Troppoli

 

Yadira Zambrano holds her sleeping infant, Elias, in Bijagual, Ecuador. UNICEF and its partners are working to reduce the levels of mosquito-borne diseases to protect children like Elias. For every child, survival.

Woman Hugging Baby

© UNICEF 2016/UN018538/Chikondi

 

At Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, Sara embraces her infant son. UNICEF works to improve the survival rates of newborns and children under 5 years old. For every child, vaccines.

Despite — and because of — the complexities of our world, in 2016, UNICEF’s commitment to children and their families was steadfast.
For every child, hope.

 

 

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HOW TO HELP

There are many ways to make a difference

War, famine, poverty, natural disasters — threats to the world's children keep coming. But UNICEF won't stop working to keep children healthy and safe.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories — more places than any other children's organization. UNICEF has the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and, when disaster strikes, can get supplies almost anywhere within 72 hours. Constantly innovating, always advocating for a better world for children, UNICEF works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy, educated, protected and respected.

Would you like to help give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential? There are many ways to get involved.

Donate to UNICEF USA to help kids survive and thrive
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