“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead
It is our belief that the delegates and staff of NAIMUN XLVII are just the group of citizens to affect this lasting, positive change through the NAIMUN philanthropy initiative.
NAIMUN launched this program in 2008 as an extension of the Georgetown International Relations Association’s larger goals as a philanthropic organization. In its inaugural year, the benefit raised over $5,000 for Kiva. This initiative was expanded and improved, and in 2009 NAIMUN XLVI raised $10,000 for Oxfam International.
With our emphasis on education through interactive diplomacy simulations, NAIMUN XLVII is very excited to partner with Save the Children and support their efforts to provide quality education to children worldwide.
Kelsie Wilhelm
k.wilhelm(at)modelun.org
Executive Assistant
Save the Children Background
Save the Children, founded in 1932, aims “to create lasting, positive change in the lives of children in need.” As one of the preeminent international non-profits, Save the Children operates in 50 countries, including the United States. Their programs, which serve more than 41 million children, range from prenatal care for new mothers and immunizations for young children to building schools in developing countries and literacy education.
One particularly inspiring undertaking is the Rewrite the Future campaign, which endeavors to improve the quality of education for children affected by conflict and emergencies. Today, approximately 77 million children worldwide are not in school. For nearly 40 million of these children, armed conflict is to blame. During times of conflict, many children must sacrifice education to earn a living or care for siblings. Still others are forced to become child soldiers or are victims of human trafficking. Rewrite the Future hopes to ameliorate this situation by providing on-the-ground support for schools and teachers in addition to working with national governments and international institutions to ensure the prioritization of quality education for conflict-affected children.
Save the Children at NAIMUN
NAIMUN XLVII will see the continuation of our popular fundraising efforts, like the sale of Valentine’s Day candy grams. However, this year we are introducing a pre-conference fundraising competition. This competition invites delegates to take a more active role in raising money for Save the Children and to affect real change in the world. Recognizing the spirit of community service at NAIMUN, this competition will encourage delegates to harness their creative energies to host innovative fundraisers in their own communities. All proceeds raised will benefit Save the Children, and the school that raises the most money will be recognized at NAIMUN with a special reward. If you are interested in participating in this exciting new initiative, please email Executive Assistant Kelsie Wilhelm at k.wilhelm(at)modelun.org to indicate your interest and to receive more information.
Update Regarding the Emergency Situation in Haiti
On January 12, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Haiti, decimating the impoverished island nation. This earthquake, believed to be the country’s worst in 200 years, has taken the lives of between 150,000-300,000 Haitians and left many others without access to food, clean water, and necessary medical care. In the midst of this humanitarian crisis, Save the Children has stepped in to provide for the immediate needs of Haitian children and their families.
Save the Children, which has been working in Port-Au-Prince and the Central Plateau region since 1985, has a longstanding history of providing health, education, and food security programs to Haiti’s children. Given the current emergency situation, Save the Children has intensified its efforts in the region, providing temporary shelter to homeless and orphaned children, initiating a reunification program for children separated from their families, and offering emotional support to children experiencing shock from this very stressful event.
Now more than ever, your support of Save the Children is critical. Your gift will enable Save the Children’s continued humanitarian relief in the region and support the rebuilding of critical infrastructure, such as the education system, once Save the Children is ready to transition its work from relief to recovery.
For up-to-date information on the situation in Haiti, please visit Save the Children's Newsroom. Thank you in advance for your generous support!
