Monday, April 16, 2007

Clay Aiken's Afghanistan Appeal Draws Massive Response for UNICEF

BREAKING NEWS: Unicef Ambassador Clay Aiken has blogged about his visit to Afghanistan.

Read his blog, "There is so much more that needs to be done", at UNICEF Fieldnotes.














UNICEF Ambassador Clay Aiken talks with Jamad, a student at a unique school where boys and girls from grades 1-9 share classes and study in the open. The school is in urgent need of funding to buy tents and materials to build a new school to allow more children the opportunity to be educated.

ALL PHOTOS: US Fund for UNICEF

A Message From Clay Aiken, UNICEF Ambassador:

"I've just returned from Afghanistan and see that the need is urgent. Let's aim high and work together to raise $100,000 in 10 days. Join me in standing with UNICEF to help these kids."















Click HERE to Support UNICEF's Programs In Afghanistan



BREAKING NEWS:
Update on $100,000 in 10 Days for Afghanistan


An appeal by UNICEF Ambassador Clay Aiken to raise $100,000 in ten days for children in Afghanistan has received an overwhelming response.

According to the UNICEF Fieldnotes blog, UNICEF supporters, including Clay's fans, had donated $69,638 by the end of the second day of the ten day campaign. Clay completed a five day visit to Afghanistan last Wednesday, aimed at raising awareness about the hope and promise he saw in the young people of the war-torn country.

“The people here are very strong and they are very proud of their country,” Clay told reporters at a press conference in Kabul held by UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan). He praised the “strength and conviction of the Afghan people and their ability to make sure that this country returns to its glory after such a long darkness.”















A light-hearted moment for Clay and the kids.














Clay with 11 year old Nasrin, who attends school with 1,050 other girls. There are only 16 teachers. The community urgently needs funds to train teachers so more kids can attend classes.



Last month, the Government of Afghanistan honored UNICEF's extraordinary work in the field of education, which has helped hundreds of thousands of children return to school, trained thousands of teachers, and built hundreds of schools.

More funds are urgently needed to help UNICEF as they work for the survival and development of children in Afghanistan. Please act now to Support UNICEF's Programs In Afghanistan.














Clay at the chalkboard, teaching the alphabet to Afghani school children.

This afternoon, Clay blogged at UNICEF Fieldnotes to provide further details of his visit to Afghanistan. The ConCLAYve will provide regular updates on the Afghanistan fund-raising campaign in support of education and health programs.
















Clay meets with Fawzia, another student at a unique co-educational school in Afghanistan. The school needs funding to build a new school and to provide materials for the students and their teachers.
















Clay administers polio vaccine to a newborn. UNICEF's immunization campaign is targeting areas like remote Bamyan province, where there is little access to health care. Afghanistan’s infant mortality rate is alarmingly high at over 25 percent.


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