define WORK : 'w&rk

I hope those who asked me about work will not regret cos this update might sound like PR materials! ;-P but please, humour me and read on....

(Disclaimer: anything i write here are MY views and should not be quoted in any form anywhere else. I am not representing UNICEF when i write this but only myself and my own perspective)

Here goes...

I work as a media volunteer in the Communication Section of UNICEF. Besides supporting the other sections in their events, our section's main aim is to raise awareness amongst Timorese of the rights of CHILDREN. We love kids and we think these kiddies are the future of Timor Leste and so a lot of emphasis should be on helping them.

'Childhood under threat'

that's a great tagline huh? It's exactly what a lot of kids here are experiencing. Many don't grow up healthily; they are malnourished and stunted; others don't survive beyond their 5th birthday. There're still many not in schools, not receiving quality education and thus will not grow up to be well-informed individuals who can participate fully in society.



One of the ways UNICEF encourages young people to express their views is by supporting and training children's editorial teams in community radio stations. Most Timorese listen to radio then tv or read newspapers so it is a great medium to spread the message. Volunteers (like Silvia you see in the picture) works with youngsters to interview fellow villagers, write stories, edit them and put them on radio! So once or twice a week, we hear the young people present their own programmes on issues they think affect them. Cool? ;-) so ya, that's what my section does.

Right now, my main duty is to focus on getting an advocacy booklet out for UNICEF Timor Leste so that we can convince donors to support the country, not just UNICEF per se.

Remember, if anyone asks what UNICEF does, we do a lot, but we don't always do the groundwork i.e. like what Raleigh and other smaller NGOs do. Instead, we work with the governments to establish sustainable systems and build their capacity.

Why?

So that even after we have left, governments can stand on their own feet and manage. Also, personally I think that if we can convince governments eg. that children's rights are important and get them committed, it's already one big battle won.

My only experience in developmental work was in Raleigh where i dealt in youth development via building/construction projects. We used to have frustrations about bigger NGOs and governments , so it's interesting to be on the other side of the fence to see what the big boys are doing. So far, i am seeing a bunch of very dedicated people who really want to make things work --- for the long term.