Ah, I remember it well: stringing an orange UNICEF change box around my neck as I headed out for trick-or-treating with my dad. Even growing up in Canada, Halloween just wouldn’t have been the same without the jingle of coins as I walked the streets of my neighborhood collecting cash for kids in need around the world along with my snack-sized Mars bars.
The tradition started in the United States in 1950, according to UNICEF, when Philly school kids went door-to-door in search of loose change from neighbors. They collected $17 for the cause in their decorated milk cartons, kicking off what has become an annual event.
Ever since, the Halloween campaign has brought in millions of dollars every year to help UNICEF provide medicine, food, water, education and emergency relief to children in more than 150 countries worldwide. This year, teen actress and singer Selena Gomez is back for her second year as spokesperson for the program, and has been spending time in Ghana promoting clean water and health care for UNICEF.
School kids from more developed countries across the globe now string those orange boxes around their necks, in the US and Canada of course (where Oct. 31 is now National UNICEF day), but also Mexico where children at private schools take part in Ayudando a Niños como Yo (Helping Children Like Me) and in Hong Kong where the campaign kicked off as recently as 2001.
For many of us, UNICEF gave us our first taste of the deep satisfaction that can only come from helping others in need — kids helping kids as UNICEF calls it. The organization opened our eyes to children’s rights and the consequences of armed conflict abroad. For me, it was the start of a life-long passion for non-profit work.
For more information on UNICEF’s activities in your area, visit the following Web sites: