Children's Charity | Getting an education | UNICEF

How UNICEF gives children a brighter future by sending them to school

Aklima, 12 years old, is among the many children all over the world who cannot afford to go to school because of poverty.

Aklima, 12 years old, lives with her parents, four sisters and two brothers in Dhaka, Bangladesh.  Unlike other children her age, she does not spend her day at school. Instead, she finds time to scour through plastic bags and scraps at a rubbish damp to make a living.

Aklima and her friends scour  plastic bits and tin cans, intending to resell these so that they can make money out of them. 

Despite knowing how dangerous her work is, Aklima persists to go on to help her family. Every morning, she makes an hour-long walk with her friends to the dump. “Sometimes I cut my hands and legs on broken glass or tins,” Aklima says.

One morning, a social worker introduced Aklima to an informal, open-air school near the site. A local organization, in partnership with UNICEF, runs the place.

Now, Aklima goes to school in the afternoon after finishing her work in the morning. Admittedly, she enjoys studying and being with other children.  “It’s good to go to school. We study. Everyone sits together. We draw pictures and write Bangla,” she says.

Like the other children, Aklima eagerly pays attention to the class discussion.

Aklima is not alone. There are many other children like her who cannot afford to get a quality education. According to the Education For All initiative of UNESCO, in 2006, 93 million children- more than the total population of the Philippines- were not in school.

We can do our part to better the situation. Be part of this change. Help Aklima. Help other children by sending them to school. Be one today!

UN | Advocacy: Water Stories

Just like to share the article I wrote for our media criticism class almost a year ago. 

***Photo not mine. No copyright infringement intended. Got it here

Like water for the future

Showered by a stream of overflowing talents from the youth, the Millennium Development Goals Foundation (MDGF) in partnership with UNICEF and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has produced a compilation of short films which promotes its advocacy on water conservation. Filtering the 37 entries that were submitted, the MDGF has chosen 10 videos to be featured in its water stories album which will be shown in various UN-associated engagements all over the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Like sparkling clear water, each video shines as it conveys the vivid stories about the significance of water to all of us. Be it in the form of documentary, music video, or stop motion animation, the stories leave us an imprint of the essential contributions of water in our daily lives as they terrifically trickle and linger in our thoughts.

Albeit some of the videos have showcased similar themes and concepts, there were a few that delightfully bathes us in unexpected freshness. While most of the videos had children in them as main stars, the De La Salle University-College of Saint Benilde (DLSU-CSB) and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) floated among the rest with their musical and animation techniques; they rise above the rest. Students from the DLSU-CSB’s not only evidently poured their theatrical skills in their “Ang Tanke” entry but more importantly they showcased their expertise in digital filmmaking, apparently depicting wonderfully-captured cinematography and clever editing. Meanwhile, PLM’s “Pipeline”, the only video that used stop motion animation, encapsulates the messages of the rest of the videos as it showcased the stagnant indifference of unconcerned citizens, the washed out mentality of the so-called environmentalists and the evanescent support for clean and accessible water in our country.

Perhaps some would be clearly disappointed for the seemingly apathetic public response towards water conservation nowadays. Nevertheless, with the MDGF water stories album, as the videos flow in refreshing fluidity, it all boils down to the fact that, there’s never a shortage for bright minds and youthful idealism in our country.

fmr2010

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Food Trip!: Contis

Kare-kare (?!)

Fresh Mango Salad.

Well, we love to eat. :)

Hmm.. Yum. I totally wanted to drop by Contis again after seeing these pictures. 

So, in celebration of... wow, my memory escapes me...haha. It was, I think, two weeks ago when we visited Contis in Greenhills and ate our hearts out there. Food was definitely, undoubtedly delicious. Place was not stuffy and crowded, not noisy. Service was quite fast. Staff and crew were accommodating. Bon appetit!

Eargasm: Whitney Houston, The Greatest Hits

Whitney's irresistible charm infects us with this adorable front cover of her The Greatest Hits album.

Just when I thought I am not that familiar with Whitney's songs, I totally found it quite surprising that I was able to sing some of her hits when I listened to this playlist the first time. We all know what she has been through, but c'mon, don't you deny you did not- not ever?- sing her songs (e.g Saving all My Love for You, I wanna Dance with Somebody, If I told You that, It's not Right, But it's okay... Greatest Love of All, One Moment in Time)

Told ya... :)

Eargasm: What Matters Most (2011)

Front cover of the recently-released Barbra Streisand album entitled What Matters Most.

Okay. Admittedly, I am not a Barbra fan but I immensely enjoy listening to this album, which songs I've yet to familiarize myself with. I love being swayed by Barbra's voice into symphony heaven. That's just lush! What I like about this  greatest hits compilation as well is that it calms my nerves when I'm quite stressed. (can you hear her in Windmills of your Mind? or Does memories creep your soul in The Way We Were?)

Anyway, cheers. Off to spending time with Barbra especially on a cold rainy night. :)