United Nations Children’s Fund (heretofore referred to as UNICEF) was created in 1946 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide healthcare and food assistance to children in countries affected by World War II. Today UNICEF is a world renowned organization whose mission is to aid children and mothers with humanitarian and developmental assistance worldwide. With the help of educating the populace, volunteer work and fundraising, UNICEF aids children by providing vaccinations, education for any age or gender, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and protecting the rights of children. UNICEF also works during times of international emergency such as war or natural disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, floods and famines. The UC Merced chapter of UNICEF is a group of activist student leaders advocating for the survival of children by volunteering, educating, and working with the community to fundraise money for the UNICEF organization.
The UNICEF Campus Initiative Summit is a meeting run by the US Fund for UNICEF that meets once a year to give college student leaders the opportunity to learn and share ideas to help contribute with children’s preventable deaths from local communities to developing countries. The Summit will provide skill and knowledge-building workshops that will allow students to work and learn from one another and as well offer leadership opportunities. The UNICEF Campus Initiative Summit will take place in New York City, NY on October 8-10, 2011.