UNICEF Eestis

1946. aastal loodud ÜRO lastefond avas esinduse Eestis 1994. aastal. UNICEFi eesmärk Eestis on veelgi lapsesõbralikum Eesti. Seetõttu panustab UNICEF Eesti laste murede ja probleemide varasesse märkamisse ja sekkumisse, laste vastu suunatud vägivalla ja inimkaubanduse ning vaesuse ja ebavõrdsuse vähendamisse, ennetustegevustesse, eestkostesse, laste ja noorte osalusse, lapsevanemate teavitamisse, koostöösse igal tasandil jm.

UNICEF Eesti eesmärk on läbi heategevuse toetada laste sotsiaalsete vajaduste paremat rahuldamist ning kodanikuühiskonna arengut:
• aidata kaasa ÜRO lastefond UNICEF tegevusele Eestis ja Lapse Õiguste Konventsiooni põhimõtete levikule ja kinnistumisele;
• toetada laste sotsiaalhoolekande, tervise, hariduse ja arengu võimaluste parandamist;
• toetada vanemliku hoolitsuseta ja erivajadustega laste sotsiaalsete vajaduste paremat rahuldamist;
• aidata kaasa vabatahtliku tegevuse arendamisele ja demokraatia põhimõtete levikule ühiskonnas;
• edendada ja toetada kodanikuaktiivsust.

UNICEFi eestvõttel algatati ka Eestis laste- ja noortesõbralike linnade liikumine, mis on populaarsust kogunud Euroopa linnade hulgas. 2010. aastaks on Eestis lastesõbraliku linna tiitel omistatud 12-le linnale. Liikumise eesmärk on tõsta esile ja tunnustada neid linnu, kus hoolitakse oma väikestest elanikest ja nende tulevikust.

UNICEFi tegevus on võimalik ainult tänu heatahtlike annetajate toetusele ja tervituskaartide heategevusmüügile. Heade inimeste, ettevõtete jt partnerite toetusega on toetatud Eesti väikekoole ja lastekodusid, ehitades neile spordiväljakuid, kinkides sporditarbeid, koolimööblit, arvuteid ja õppevahendeid. Samuti on toetatud suurperesid, erivajadustega lapsi, lastehaiglaid jpt. UNICEFi tegevused viiakse ellu paljude vabatahtlike ning erinevate organisatsioonide ja ettevõttetega koostöös.

The UN Children's Fund, established in 1946, opened a representative office in Estonia in 1994. UNICEF's goal in Estonia is an even more child-friendly Estonia. Therefore, UNICEF Estonia contributes to the early detection and intervention of children's concerns and problems, reduction of violence and trafficking in children and poverty and inequality, prevention activities, guardianship, participation of children and young people, informing parents, cooperation at all levels, etc.

The goal of UNICEF Estonia is to support better satisfaction of children's social needs and the development of civil society through charity:
• to contribute to the activities of the United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF in Estonia and to the spread and consolidation of the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child;
• support the improvement of children's social welfare, health, education and development opportunities;
• to support better meeting the social needs of children without parental care and special needs;
• to contribute to the development of volunteering and the spread of democratic principles in society;
• to promote and support active citizenship.

At the initiative of UNICEF, the movement of child- and youth-friendly cities was also initiated in Estonia, which has gained popularity among European cities. By 2010, 12 cities in Estonia have been awarded the title of child-friendly city. The aim of the movement is to highlight and recognize those cities that care about their small inhabitants and their future.

Recent initiatives involve donation of the following products to at-risk individuals in the community:

UNICEF's activities are only possible thanks to the support of benevolent donors and the charity sale of greeting cards. With the support of good people, companies and other partners, Estonian small schools and orphanages have been supported by building sports fields for them, donating sports equipment, school furniture, computers and teaching aids. Large families, children with special needs, children's hospitals, etc. have also been supported. UNICEF's activities are carried out in collaboration with many volunteers and various organizations and companies.