Film evening to highlight work of UNICEF

October 22, 2007

A program of short films at the University of New England next week will highlight several of the world's current disasters of famine, war and disease that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is addressing.

The film evening, on Tuesday 30 October, is the first public event to be organised by UNE's newly-appointed University Liaison Officers (ULOs) for UNICEF.

The ULOs – Quassy Adjapawn and Rebecca Platt (pictured here) – said their mission was to raise awareness within the University and Armidale communities about the vital work of UNICEF around the world. They will talk about this work, the need for broad-based community involvement, and their role as ULOs during the film evening.

Beginning at 6.30 pm in Room 133 of UNE's Education Building, the evening will include a film celebrating the 60th anniversary of UNICEF, as well as documentaries examining problems of HIV and Aids in South Asia, hunger in Liberia, refugees in Sierra Leone, and the scourge of the screw worm parasite in Libya.

"This event will give us – the University's first ULOs – a chance to meet members of the community and begin our job of raising awareness of UNICEF's work in more than 150 countries," said Ms Platt, who is a third-year Bachelor of Education (Primary) student at UNE.

"I have a passion for teaching," she continued, "and gained experience this year teaching in disadvantaged areas of the United States. That experience will help me towards my ambition of teaching disadvantaged children both in Australia and overseas."

Mr Adjapawn, who has come from Ghana to conduct postgraduate research in UNE's Centre for Peace Studies, said he had always dreamed of working for a United Nations organisation. "That's what brought me to Peace Studies," he said, "and this is another stepping stone towards that goal."

While UNE is one of the first Australian universities to appoint UNICEF ULOs, many other universities are in the process of entering the program. The Web site for the program is at: http://www.unicefulo.org.au/. Ms Platt and Mr Adjapawn are planning at least six events next year to continue their community awareness campaign, and are hoping to form a group of local people interested in promoting UNICEF's work of achieving basic rights for children. For more information, contact them at unicefulo@une.edu.au.

People attending next week's film evening at UNE can make a voluntary contribution of $10 (per adult) or $12 (per family or group of four students). Tea and coffee will be available for a gold coin donation.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at October 22, 2007 04:21 PM