UN Gift Box in NYC

What is the UN GIFT Box?

An innovative project created by STOP THE TRAFFIK and the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) which was launched during the 2012 London Olympics. GIFT boxes are walk-in pieces of public art that people encounter at street level that invite people inside with promises and offers like “Earn more money and support your family.” Once inside visitors are presented with a different reality and exposed to the dangers of human trafficking. The project is currently in Brazil, Slovakia and the United Kingdom and has the potential to roll out into other countries across the world.

The UN Gift Box will remain in Union Square until the end of the Super Bowl (Feb. 2). You can find out more information on their website here: http://www.stopthetraffik.org/united-states

Educational Resource: Two Minute Videos on Our Oceans

The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has recently released a series of short two minute videos on ocean habitats. These short videos provide excellent information designed specifically for children, thanks to cartoonist Jim Toomey. According to a press release from UNEP, "Using animation and humor, the six videos in the Toomey series, provide in clear and simple language, information about cutting-edge science and policy issues regarding our oceans, their importance to human well-being and the challenges facing our oceans. They address a wide range of ocean topics including: blue carbon, the true value of our oceans, the impacts of climate change, as well as threats such as marine litter."

Check out the UNEP website here for the full list of videos and information.

International Schools Essay Competition on "Sustainable Living"

2014 International Schools Essay Competition & Debate

What does 'sustainable living' mean to you?

FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT

There are just two weeks left to register for the 2014 International Schools Essay Competition.
Enter now for your chance to win a fantastic trip to the UK for three people to attend the International Schools Debates (7-10 July).
Teachers/Parents/Legal Guardians of children around the world (aged 7-17), please register here (until 10th February). Each Teacher Champion can submit up to 30 essays online until the 10th February deadline.

Opportunity: Movies 4 Development, UNICEF

For students:  Movies 4 Development (M4D)–submissions due March 7, 2014

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF High School Club program announces Movies 4 Development (M4D), an interactive way for high school students to express their ideas about children’s issues. Members work in teams of three to produce a 60-second video on Child Protection. Visit unicefusa.org/m4d for resources, contest rules and regulations and more. (NOTE: You must first register on the UNICEF Action Center.) You do not need to be a member of a UNICEF high school club to enter.

National Human Trafficking Awareness Month

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. According to the TeachUNICEF website, "Children are trafficked into labor, exploited in mines, or recruited into militias in conflict zones." 27% of victims of human trafficking are children. As a result, TeachUNICEF has released lesson plans for grades 6-8 and 9-12 in order to address and call attention to this serious issue of child trafficking. According to the website, "This topic, which contains mature content, aims to raise awareness about trafficking and encourage students to take their own steps in addressing trafficking."

TeachUNICEF's webpage on Child Trafficking is an excellent resource for teachers and community leaders to work with adolescents and young adults to call attention to the crisis of human trafficking in a manner that is thorough, thought provoking, and appropriate. Here is an example of one of the activity sheets, which you can find directly here:

Access the plethora of teaching resources through TeachUNICEF's website here: http://teachunicef.org/explore/topic/child-trafficking