Nine Million Children Refugees: Worldwide support

Sport for a Better World

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:32:43 GMT

The world is full of changemakers.

Changemakers who believe in the power of sport to bring a better future to refugee children and youth around the world.

We want to know about the innovative work you are doing through sport or many innovative ideas that you would like to see come to life.

Join Luol Deng, A former refugee who has risen to star status as an NBA player for the Chicago Bulls, an innovator for a better world.

Approximately 12 finalists will be chosen and three winners will receive USD 5,000.

Finalists will attend a prestigious global summit where their innovations will be profiled to enthusiasts, thought leaders and decision makers.

For more details please visit http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/competition/sports

Refugee teacher seeks to "write" the wrongs

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 08:07:45 GMT

Refugee teacher seeks to "write" the wrongs

DJABAL CAMP, Chad – "I knew how to read and write, that is why I was selected to be a teacher in Djabal camp," says Aziza Souleyman Mahamet. A modest claim, but one that reflects the serious lack of trained and qualified teachers in the schools of eastern Chad's refugee camps.

Aziza, a 40-year-old mother of three, is herself a refugee from West Darfur. "The Janjaweed attacked us and an Antonov plane bombed us," she recalls. Her family walked for seven days before reaching the border with Chad, where they lived for many months through the rainy season. It was only in mid-2004 that UNHCR found them and brought them to Djabal camp. In her four years of teaching Arabic, Aziza has met many traumatized children.

"You have children who saw their parents being murdered – by gunshot or shrapnel from the bombings," she says. "These children have not forgotten the images, and it impacts a lot the way they learn and remember things. Some have dropped out of school because of it."

Thankfully, various psycho-social programs in the camp have provided counselling to many children, helping them focus better in class.

But the physical infrastructure is often missing. "Now they are learning while sitting on the sand," says Aziza. "We need tables and chairs for the children to be able to sit." There is also a huge need for more textbooks – on average, there is only one book for three pupils, which is not enough to follow classes and do homework. Basic stationary such as notepads and pens is also in demand.

In addition, the harsh weather conditions in eastern Chad, including sand storms and the rainy season, cause school buildings to deteriorate quickly. "Some parents are afraid to send their children to school because they fear the building will collapse on them," says Aziza. With no glass windows, classrooms are exposed to wind and sand storms.

Teachers are trained by UNHCR, UNICEF and NGOs, but the incentives are weak. "Teachers are not paid enough," says Aziza, who makes 25,000 CFA ($50) monthly. The schools' director earns 40,000 CFA per month, based on local rates.

Still, Aziza would not trade her job for any other. "I thank God that now I can teach children," she says with emotion. "For their future and mine, I hope to be able to return to Darfur, to study for myself and continue to teach in my village."

In the meantime, she continues to encourage parents to send their children to school so that when it is safe to return to Darfur, "they will have knowledge and education to rebuild the region."

Angelina Jolie and UNHCR promote education at Clinton Global Initiative

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:20:12 GMT

Angelina Jolie and UNHCR promote education at Clinton Global Initiative

THAM HIN REFUGEE CAMP, Thailand (UNHCR) – In Thailand refugee toddlers get a pre-school headstart on education and teenagers learn vital computer skills. In Azerbaijan refugee children have new playgrounds and learn to swim. In Uganda, thousands of refugee children are getting text books for the first time.

The unifying reason in these countries, together with help provided in Kenya, Liberia and Chad, is the funds raised through the ninemillion programme to help children driven from their homes by conflict and violence. The progamme is about to grow – with a goal of enhancing education for nine million children by 2010.

UN High Commissioner for Refugee António Guterres and UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie will join former US president Bill Clinton at the September 26-28 meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, issuing a call to raise $220 million for refugee education. The CGI aims to inspire commitments of help from its members.

For full story please read http://www.unhcr.org/events/46e7db842.html

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's High-Powered Day in N.Y.C.

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:31:12 GMT

Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Photo by: Chip East / Landov(2)

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are making the most of their time in New York: The high-wattage couple have packed their schedules for Wednesday, meeting with diplomatic and financial leaders to promote various causes.

The first stop of the day... The Clinton Global Initiative, where Pitt asked for support for his Make It Right program. He's partnering with billionaire Steve Bing on the project, which plans to build 150 affordable – and environmentally sustainable – homes in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward. Pitt and Bing have each promised to match donations pledged during the initiative up to $5 million.

"These people will not be beaten," Pitt said at the luncheon. "In the past year, we've been meeting with the community, building their trust ... We need your help."

In the afternoon... Jolie attended a press conference with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guteres, to talk about a new campaign, Nine Million, aimed at improving education for refugee children around the world.

Then in the evening... Jolie, a Goodwill Ambassador for the U.N. refugee agency, spoke at a session focused on education for children in war-torn areas such as Darfur and Iraq.

"These are the children who most need a safe place to learn, a place to heal, a place to learn reconciliation, and a place to just be children," said Jolie, who is the co-chair of the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict. "Some think we should only provide emergency relief to children in conflict ... They say education is not life-saving. All of us here today would beg to differ."

The busy day of high-powered goodwill work is hardly unusual – Pitt is already working with Global Green to create environmentally friendly housing in New Orleans, while Jolie has done extensive work in her role at the United Nations.

In was also announced Tuesday that Jolie would meet with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband in New York to discuss global diplomacy.

And if that's not enough, Pitt's doing a little acting, too: He's filming Burn After Reading, which costars his pal George Clooney.

ninemillion.org/LeWeb3 Digital Champions:

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:15:17 GMT

Technology Elite Join Forces with UNHCR, the Refugee Agency

A hand-selected group of top technology influencers has signed on to bring their considerable expertise to UNHCR’s Ninemillion program – an effort that represents a tectonic shift for one of the world’s most established organizations.

There are more than nine million children around the world who are suffering as a result of the global refugee crisis. Whether displaced from their homes by war, hatred and persecution, or natural disaster, these children are in desperate need of help – and hope. UNHCR will begin to address this dire situation by helping 9 million of these children immediately through this ground-breaking initiative.

Ninemillion’s mission is to create a global movement – leveraging new media and Web 2.0 technology – that will educate people about this issue, catalyze action by those in a position to do so, and most importantly provide the children who are so terribly in need with a way to connect – to their displaced families, to communities, and to other children globally. This program also serves to bridge the digital gap for the UN Refugee Agency by bringing its established presence forward using leading-edge technologies.

Endeavoring to make this a reality, UNHCR joined forces with LeWeb3 – one of Europe’s largest gatherings for technology influencers. As part of this partnership, LeWeb3 reached out to an array of leading Silicon Valley players and has engaged their participation to work with UNHCR on building the infrastructure for Ninemillion and setting up the plan to bring it to the world.

The LeWeb3 Digital Champion effort, which will be unveiled during the week of September 24 during the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City, will kick off in earnest during October and November. During this time, and taking advantage of the social networking platform, Facebook, the LeWeb3 Digital Champions will gather virtually to discuss the key objectives for Ninemillion. Through these conversations, the group will help prioritize the objectives, identify how technology can be used to achieve those objectives and clearly outline steps UNHCR will need to take in order to strongly establish Ninemillion as a global movement.

This program’s first stage will culminate at the LeWeb3 Conference, December 11 and December 12, 2007 in Paris. During the event, UNHCR will present Ninemillion to the conference’s 2,000 attendees, and also will host an on-site working brainstorm session. This brainstorm, in which any conference attendee can participate, will strive to resolve nine million’s top objectives with recommendations for action – and hopefully some offers to volunteer time and services for the effort.

Moving beyond LeWeb3, the Digital Champions will continue to serve as an ongoing sounding board for UNHCR, and the LeWeb3 community will continue to provide the organization with help to further Ninemillion’s objectives.

The confirmed LeWeb3 Digital Champions are:
- Dave Sifry, CEO of Technorati
- Gina Bianchini, CEO and Co-Founder of Ning
- Hans Peter Brondmo, CEO and Co-Founder of Plum
- James Joaquin, former CEO of Ofoto
- Kim Polese, CEO of SpikeSource
- Martin Varsavsky, CEO of FON
- Philip Rosedale, CEO of Linden Lab
- Yossi Vardi, Renowned Israeli Investor

Loic Le Meur, serial entrepreneur and organizer of the LeWeb3 conference, will take a leadership role for this group; and Cathy Brooks, Founder of Other Than That Productions and content curator for the 2007 LeWeb3 conference, will facilitate the brainstorms and work with UNHCR to help implement the group’s findings.

Britain's Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng backs ninemillion

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:31:08 GMT

Chicago Bulls basketball star Luol Deng passes on some tips to youngsters in South Norwood, the area of London where the former refugee was brought up. © Getty Images

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 20 (UNHCR) – Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng is back in Britain to try and help his adopted country win a place in the 2012 London Olympics. But the Sudan-born basketball prodigy has also been taking time out to support the UN refugee agency's campaign to open up sports and education opportunities for millions of young refugees around the world. Deng last week made his home debut for Britain in a friendly with Ireland and on Tuesday the lanky former refugee will try and help his country beat Slovakia in a European Championship qualifier. The team need to win promotion to the championship's top league if they are to be granted a place in the Olympics. Although 22-year-old Deng has been living in the United States for a number of years, he was clearly happy to be back in the British capital. "London will always be my home. It's the city I grew up in and where my family lives today," he said during a visit to South Norwood in London's Croydon district, where the family settled after fleeing southern Sudan.

For full sotry please visit http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/46c9b0ce4.html

The 2007 TransRockies

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:02:32 GMT

In the biking photo, Jo Turnbull is #5 and I'm #6.

This summer Jo Turnbull and myself (Jenny Hillman) will take on our biggest athletic challenge ... the 2007 TransRockies!! The race begins August 12th in Panorama, B.C, and finishes 7 days later in Fernie, B.C. Over the course of the seven days, Jo and I will cover 600km and 12,000m of elevation gain. For those of you who have ever done a hike, or ride, involving quite a lot of elevation gain, you can appreciate what 1500-2000m a day will feel like!!

To help motivate ourselves through these painful (and fun) moments to come we are each trying to raise a dollar for every kilometer we will ride ... therefore, with every kilometer we complete we'll know that another refugee child will have a chance to learn and play ... simple gifts in life we often take for granted. As Paw Wha says in her video clip .. playing makes my heart happy - and that's why we love to ride! Knowing that by completing this challenge we can all help make more little hearts happy too, and develop the minds of these wonderful children will be the greatest accomplishment of all.

Thanks, Jenny

ninemillion.org would like to wish both Jenny and Jo the best of luck during this incredibly challenging race and Thank them both for their support!

WORLD REFUGEE DAY

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:08:54 GMT

World Refugee Day: Challenges of the 21st Century

GENEVA, June 20 (UNHCR) – Today is World Refugee Day, a day when the UN refugee agency tries to focus worldwide attention on the plight of millions of refugees and displaced people around the world. To mark the day, High Commissioner António Guterres is visiting South Sudan to witness the rapid changes in the nature of the refugee challenge in Africa.

Some 40 million people worldwide are uprooted by violence and persecution, and it is likely that the future will see more people on the move as a growing number of push factors build upon each other to create conditions for further forced displacement.

For full storeis please visit http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/4678e48d4.html

For more information on ninemillion.org please visit and sign up for our newsletter http://www.ninemillion-newsletters.org/

Ninemillion.org in France

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:26:18 GMT

Ninemillion.org hits the beach in Marseille, France.

Please send us your ideas and photos on how to send ninemillion.org around the world.

REFUGEE VOICES

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:27:47 GMT

Refugee Voices!

Through ninemillion.org we have been able to introduce you to some amazing children. We have shown you their photos. We could tell you their stories…

But even better!

Through the power of http://nine-million.spaces.live.com

They will tell you their story!

Visit the space in the upcoming days and weeks to hear from refugee children in Azerbaijan, Uganda and Thailand.

Learn from each other. Blog together

CARLA

ninemillion.org in Canada

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 11:22:01 GMT

Terryn living in Vernon BC, Canada is moving ninemillion.org all over town. For Christmas she was given a pair of “design your own” converse (RED).

She decided to design a really wild pair of ninemillion.org converse. Now whenever & wherever she wears her ninemillion.org converse people comment “wow cool shoes!” Terryn says it’s a great way to start a conversation and to spread the world about ninemillion.org.

Thanks Terryn! It’s an extremely creative and an excellent idea on how individuals can support ninemillion.org.

Carla

ninemillion.org in Venezuela

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 09:29:32 GMT

Eduardo is ten years old and lives in a shack alone with his mother in the small village in Venezuela. The two are refugees from Colombia who crossed the border after Eduardo’s father disappeared. His mother cries a lot and Eduardo’s days are a bit lonely. He loves football, but hasn’t had much time to make friends with the neighborhood kids – most of whom are Colombians too. “I need to stay at home for my mother,” he explains, “she has no one else around here and it is hard for her to be alone.”

With the ninemillion.org campaign, UNHCR and Nike have joined forced to bring some joy into the lives of children like Eduardo all around the world. Nike has donated some 40,000 balls – almost 5,000 for Latin America alone – which local UNHCR teams are now distributing in places like Venezuela.

Eduardo’s eyes lit up when he is given the green and yellow football during an impromptu ceremony that gathers the children of the predominantly Colombian neighborhood. He undertakes to take good care of the ball and immediately organizes the children into two teams to start a game. “Yes the girls can play too,” he insists in the face of strong opposition from some other boys, “the ball is for everyone.”

In the end everyone who wants to play is included. It all gets a bit messy before long – some of the smallest kids can’t remember which team they are on – but at least the children are playing, which is the idea behind the ninemillion.org campaign.

Marie-Helene Verney, UNHCR, in Venezuela

ninemillion.org in Australia

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:10:49 GMT

Ryan Drake was born in Papua New Guinea and now lives in Brisbane, Australia. In April he will turn 13. He has written to us at ninemillion.org to explain how he would like to support ninemillion.org in Australia.

"Why am I interested in ninemillion.org?

I truly believe that every generation should live better than the last. That’s why this subject is so close to my heart. I seriously look up to people like Nelson Mandela and Bono who have a true passion for helping the less-fortunate. In the western world, we live in a society where we have everything we could possibly ever need right around us. We are so fortunate to be able to go to schools where we’re educated and then go home at night to a loving family, where we can sleep under a roof.

I feel we’re in a world that doesn’t listen and learn from the information around us all. We don’t open our eyes to the very fact that there are literally NINE MILLION REFUGEE CHILDREN! Nine million children! Instead we choose to close our eyes to these outrageous figures. These people don’t have what we take for granted each day. They can’t go to school and learn because they’re displaced from their homes and families.

The thing people don’t really realise is that YOU CAN make a world of difference to these children. If everyone just did one single thing, whether large or small to help these children, not only will you feel good about it but you know then that you’ve made someone's life better than it was.

I’ve learnt that one person can make a world of difference and many would cause a phenomenon in history.

WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!

What am I going to do to help you ask? Well first of all, create a word of mouth buzz. In my vision I have to get the word out about ninemillion.org, to contact papers and radio stations. I also have to contact sports clubs in the area such as the Brisbane Lions. My aim is to get the word out and that is exactly how I’m going to help." Ryan

Thank you Ryan for supporting ninemillion.org

Carla

Ninemillion.org, Refugee Sport & Manchester University

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 10:10:54 GMT

Daniel Hall and a team of students from Manchester University in England recently designed a poster: A Chance to Flourish, The Role of Sport in the Lives of Refugees.

The poster highlights that refugee participation in sport teaches valuable life skills, such as discipline and independence, as well as many other vital attributes (please see attached poster).

Daniel stated that “Our team found your website most useful, as we are trying to draw attention to the use of sport in developing countries". It is a great example of how you can use the website and this space to come up with your own creative ideas to help us raise awareness in your local communities, schools or amongst your friends.

Thanks Daniel Hall & Your Team at Manchester University in England!

Click4theCause

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 11:54:32 GMT

Fantastic effort everyone!

click4thecause is having great success especially in Spain. Great Job SPAIN!!! Let's try to raise more awareness and as much funds as we can for ninemillion.org! Tell everyone you know to start searching through click4thecause, make it your homepage!

Don’t wait as Click4thecause finishes March 31, 2007.

Carla

The Men's Vogue Benefit Auction for Ninemillion.org

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:54:52 GMT

We're happy to announce the launch of the Men's Vogue charity auction, in partnership with iGavel.com and benefiting Ninemillion.org

For more info please visit

http://www.mensvogue.com/clothing/feature/articles/2006/12/18/mv_auction

To see the auction items please visit

http://auction.igavel.com/ClientInfo.taf?source=mv&_function=info&skip=1&id=1796

Ninmillion.org & the SLRAS in DAVOS

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 12:15:04 GMT

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) António Guterres underscored the importance of collaboration between the UN and the private sector by highlighting a new joint initiative during an address at the World Economic Forum today.

"Today, UNHCR is trying to give a voice to some nine million refugee children," Mr. Guterres said at a luncheon kicking off the start of the annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. "But we can’t do it alone. If the refugee voice is to be heard and understood, we need all the help we can get. And that’s where our corporate partners and ninemillion.org come in."

"Refugee children are among the most marginalized people on Earth," Mr. Guterres. "We tend to forget that beyond the 20-second news flashes there are millions of refugees, many of them children, living for years in often unbearable conditions, robbed of their chances for personal development."

Since its inception, the ninemillion.org campaign has drawn 2 million people to its website and has raised roughly $1.5 million.

ninemillion.org & the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:48:08 GMT

Great News! The Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars have arrived in Switzerland!

Last night 7 members of the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars arrived in Geneva, Switzerland from their homes in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

I was able to quickly welcome them in Geneva before they continued on to Zurich and this morning to Davos for the World Economic Forum. The Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars will be featured at two separate events at the invitation of the UNHCR as part of our efforts to bring attention to the ninemillion.org campaign and the plight of refugees around the globe.

For those of you that have yet to hear about the SLRAS please visit their website http://www.sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com/ - Excellent CD and Documentary!

More news on Davos to follow

Carla

What Can I do to Help Ninemillion.org?

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:20:09 GMT

We have received several emails through ninemillion@unhcr.org asking “What Can I do to Help?”

There are MANY ways you can assist:

Search through http://click4thecause.live.com/Search/Charity/Default.aspx – for every search Microsoft will donate funds to ninemillion.org
Visit the space regularly, make a comment or a blog, click on the counter, download the gadgets, sign the guest book, and join as a friend.
Tell your friends to do the same.
Blog about ninemillion.org on your space or other blogging platforms
Visit http://www.ninemillion.org/, purchase and wear a t-shirt http://www.ninemillionshop.org/
Start a ninemillion.org group in your school, office or community.
If you are a teacher visit http://www.unhcr.org/help/4072c8174.html for teaching about refugee resources.
If you are a company, corporation, foundation, not-for-profit organization or an association inform and encourage your employees to get involved and match their contributions
If you are an employee inform and encourage your company, corporation, foundation, not-for-profit organization or association to get involved and match your contributions
Come up with more innovative ways to support ninemillion.org and tell us about them.

Thanks for your support!

Carla

Searching to Aid UN Refugee Agency's ninemillion.org

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 16:21:45 GMT

Jan. 17, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced its continued collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a United Nations agency mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide.

In support of ninemillion.org, today Microsoft kicked off its Click for the Cause initiative in which Internet searches performed at http://click4thecause.live.com using Microsoft’s search service, Live Search, through March 2007 will result in a financial donation to ninemillion.org. The Live Search donation program will be coupled with a broad online awareness campaign for ninemillion.org to include advertising and editorial space on Microsoft® online properties such as MSN® and microsoft.com in 26 markets around the world.

"Driving awareness is critical to finding lasting solutions for the millions of refugees and displaced people worldwide," said Nick Van Praag, director of UNHCR’s Division of External Relations. "Through Microsoft utilizing the MSN network on behalf of ninemillion.org, we are able to generate consumer awareness that we hope will result in donations to support this important cause, giving hope to refugee youth and children."

It's easy! Visit http://click4thecause.live.com and start searching. Each search raises funds for ninemillion.org. It's that easy. Make sure to tell your friends, download the Gadget, and help change the lives of refugees.

Thanks Microsoft Japan

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 15:29:01 GMT

As you may already know, Microsoft Japan launched the Japanese version of web-log “Ninemillion Supporters Space Live” on the 5th of December 2006.

http://ninemillion-jp.spaces.live.com

When MS Japan held their year-end party on Dec 8th 2006, they sold 100 ninemillion.org T-shirts to employees and kindly collected about 30 Christams Cards in which attendees wrote messages for refugee children.

Thanks Microsoft Japan!