Do You Believe in Zero?

This month 12 for 12k has partnered up with UNICEF to promote their Believe in Zero campaign aimed at bringing the number from 25,000 to 0.

Its terribly cliched, I'm sure, but as a Mum of two gorgeous, bouncy, infuriating, loving, inspiring, precious pre-schoolers, this campaign really speaks to me. I can't imagine how heartbreaking it must be to bring up your babies in a world where life is so precarious. Where, through no fault of your own, you can't provide them with the very basics - nutritious food, safe shelter, clean water.

Having what it takes, doing whatever it takes—this is the essence of UNICEF, the organization that has saved more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world.

UNICEF’s accomplishments are the result of more than 60 years of on-the ground work all around the world, led by experts from a range of disciplines, who have unparalleled influence at the highest levels of government, and the courage, resolve and commitment to get the job done.

More children are alive today because of UNICEF. And yet, impressive as these results are, we have a higher obligation.

UNICEF’s unmatched reach, expertise, access and influence, innovation, efficiency and resolve mandate that we do whatever it takes to put an end to the unnecessary deaths of 25,000 children who die every day from preventable causes. This is where the Believe in Zero campaign aims to make the difference.

That even one child dies from a preventable cause is completely unacceptable—especially when simple, basic and affordable interventions exist to save lives.

What your money can buy:

Water is life. Yet one billion people do not have access to safe water, and 2.6 billion people live without proper sanitation. Water-borne illness is the second highest cause of childhood death in the world. When water is unsafe and sanitation non-existent, water can kill.

$10 can provide 400 children with enough clean drinking water for one day.

Malnutrition plays a role in the majority of the deaths of children under five. Malnourished children are too weak to fight off illness, and they often become physically and mentally stunted. And malnutrition keeps children trapped in the cycle of poverty.

$20 can provide one carton of high energy/protein biscuits containing minerals and vitamins, developed for malnourished children during emergencies.

Every child has the right to an education. Education transforms lives and breaks the cycle of poverty that so many children are caught in. And an educated child will make sure her own children receive an education.

$20 can provide 50 notebooks and pencils to children in schools.

Today, UNICEF provides vaccines to 40 percent of the world’s children and helps saves two million lives a year. But thousands of children still die needlessly every day from diseases like measles, which kills more than 600 children every day.

$40 provides measles vaccines for 150 children.

As you can see, it takes just a little to make a huge difference to so many.

Please join 12for12k in supporting UNICEF this month and help realize the dream of turning 25,000 unnecessary child deaths into zero.

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Nothing is Certain but Death and Taxes

Image by kiddharma via Flickr

Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.
-Benjamin Franklin

As much as we don't like to think about our mortality, we all have to die some time. Most of us expect it will be something that sneaks up on us quickly and hopefully painlessly - but as any good Life Insurance salesperson will tell you this is not always how it happens. Many of us will need some palliative care at the end of our lives.

May's 12for12k Charity is the Hospice of Peel. Located in Mississauga, Ontario, the Hospice of Peel aims to be recognized as the foremost provider of, and resource for, hospice care. When illnesses can no longer be treated medically, the volunteers and trained professionals of the Hospice of Peel are the emotional response for those affected.

Many people do not realise that hospice is a philosophy of care, not a building. Hospice cares for the whole person; not just their physical needs, but also their emotional, spiritual and social needs. We care for families and friends as well, both before and after a death.
- from Good Magazine

To be able to offer this kind of caring and support for the patient and the family, the Hospice of Peel relies on both its volunteers and donations from the community, locally and nationally.

Its Hospice Awareness Week from May 11-17 - so its a great time to donate to the Hospice of Peel below:

If you are in New Zealand, grab a subscription to Good magazine before 14 June and they will donate $9 to Hospice New Zealand.

The 12 for 12k Challenge

The 12 for 12k challenge is a social media experiment that aims to raise $144,000 in 2009.

The concept is simple:

12 months of the year
12 charities - a different one each month
$12,000 per charity.

So far they have supported Stop the Silence & War Child and raised over $15,500 for Share Our Strength in March.

In April they are fundraising for Yehu.org with the Mom It Forward network.

Yehu is a microfinance organization in the rural coastal region of Kenya for the poor, run by the poor. It provides financial and other support services for small businesses owned by very poor people.

Yehu operates in conjunction with Choice Humanitarian, an international NGO specializing in village development. Yehu was created based on the principles and procedures of the world-renowned Grameen Bank.

Yehu mission is to empower poor rural entrepreneurs in Kenya to help lift themselves out of poverty. This is done through enhanced accessibility to sustainable financial services, business opportunities, and skills training.

As well as normal donations, the 12 for 12k Challenge will be running a host of special events throughout April. These include virtual pajama parties, 24-hour fund-raising marathons and perhaps the most exciting event - international charity meet-ups.

Cities across the U.S., Canada and Australia will be hosting live events on April 18. These will be a mix of fun, drinks, socializing, prizes, silent auctions and much more. The 12for12k events will be held in San Diego, Toronto and Sydney (Australia), with more hosted by Mom It Forward.

Visit The 12 for 12k Challenge for more info or donate with ChipIn below.