Lauren Child for UNESCO: Appeal for stories for “My Life is a Story II”

The second phase of the Campaign “My Life is a Story” has been recently launched by Lauren Child. The Campaign has been initiated by the British children’s author and illustrator in 2008 in the framework of her partnership with UNESCO’s Programme for the Education of Children in Need and her publisher Hachette Children’s Books. Its purpose is to give children all over the world the opportunity to tell the story of their life through writing, drawing and photography.

Whereas the first phase of this Campaign called upon children who have benefitted from projects supported by UNESCO’s Programme for the Education of Children in Need to tell the world what it feels like to be them, the second phase is inviting children from the United Kingdom to tell their life stories. In this way, the children from very different backgrounds are to become aware of their common destiny.

Similarly to phase one, a broad range of partners throughout the United Kingdom such as bookshops, schools, museums and theatres will carry this second appeal for stories. This UK-wide mobilisation will culminate in an exhibition of the best stories, drawings and photos to be organised in April 2010 at the Art House Gallery at Cathedral Primary School in London.

Stories will also be posted on the website especially dedicated to this Campaign www.mylifeisastory.org.

UNESCO and FC Barcelona put racism offside to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

All Rights Reserved / Anti-Racism Awareness Campaign FC Barcelona / UNESCO

UNESCO and FC Barcelona’s ongoing partnership in the fight against racism and discrimination has been reinforced by a video message delivered by the club’s star players, Lionel Messi, Seydou Keita and Gerard Piqué. In the clip, produced to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March, the three star players rally viewers to ‘Put Racism Offside’.

UNESCO and the FC Barcelona signed a partnership agreement in 2007. The central objective of which is to raise awareness on the role of education and sport in the development and well-being of children and youth, and in the promotion of dialogue, mutual understanding and social cohesion. Efforts have focused so far on using sports as a means to combat racism and discrimination, with emphasis on children and youth.

UNESCO’s International Coalition of Cities Against Racism and Discrimination (ICCAR) is also mobilized to celebrate the Day, through a wide range of events.  The city of Ghent (Belgium) will mobilize over 5000 people for a ‘Handshake against racism’. Montevideo (Uruguay) will launch ‘Afro World’ to promote the cultures of the city’s African descendants to tourists. And in Johannesburg (South Africa) several events will be organized to remember the 69 people killed during a peaceful anti-apartheid protest in 1960.

In Paris, UNESCO is organizing a local event for the pupils from Paris’ suburbs to discuss gender relations. The students will be encouraged to find ways to fight against discrimination whilst respecting each others’ individual identity. During the event entitled “Towards equality or affirming differences?” pupils will use theatre to enact everyday gender-related situations and exchange different approaches for dealing with them.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination marks the day when in 1960 police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against Apartheid in Sharpeville, South Africa. The UN General Assembly then called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination every year on 21 March.

More information:
UNESCO - FC Barcelona partnership
International Coalition of Cities Against Racism
UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona Foundation
Special Event at UNESCO
Video - Put Racism Offside