U.S. Fund for UNICEF announces winners of J8 Summit contest
Winning team to represent the United States at Junior 8 Summit, official youth event linked to the annual Group 8 Summit taking place in Italy this July
NEW YORK, NY (May 13, 2009) — The U.S. Fund for UNICEF announced today the Global Pioneers from North Miami Senior High School in Miami, Florida as the winning team of this year’s competition to participate in the Junior 8 (J8) Summit, a youth event linked to the annual Group of 8 (G8) Summit.
Global Pioneers are represented by 15 year-old Pulkit Agrawal, 17 year-old Kefhira Pintos, 16 year-old Emmanuella Louisdor and 15 year-old Daniel Morales and will represent the United States and their peers in Italy in July to discuss global issues, share their solutions and meet face-to-face with G8 leaders to voice their concerns.
"The ideas that these four students submitted in their application not only held the most creative solutions to the issues presented, but also truly embodied the spirit of the J8 Summit, leaving us so proud to have them represent the United States," said Caryl Stern, President and CEO, U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "This opportunity to voice their concerns while also increasing their knowledge of the problems that we face today will provide these young adults with the chance to make a difference in the world, a world in which 25,000 children die from preventable causes every day."
The Global Pioneers’ application centered on the three topics of focus for this year’s summit: climate change, HIV/AIDS and poverty and development in the face of the global financial crisis. With suggestions such as "End Poverty Bonds," "Doctors of the World (DOW)" and the "Green Olympics Competition," these four students creatively expressed ideas meant to improve conditions in the developing world and will have much to offer fellow participants as well as G8 leaders.
Now in its fifth year, the UNICEF-organized J8 Summit brings together winning teams representing each of the G8 countries with teams from eight non-G8 countries – including Brazil, China, India, and South Africa - sending a clear message to leaders that children from all over the world are equally affected by G8 decisions. J8 participants will discuss topics on the G8 agenda ahead of the Summit and will take their recommendations to the leaders.
The G8 Summit will be held in Sardinia, Italy, July 8-10 2009, with the heads of state from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
About UNICEF
For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been the world’s leading international children’s organization, working in over 150 countries to address the ongoing issues that affect why kids are dying. UNICEF provides lifesaving nutrition, clean water, education, protection and emergency response saving more young lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. While millions of children die every year of preventable causes like dehydration, upper respiratory infections and measles, UNICEF, with the support of partnering organizations and donors alike, has the global experience, resources and reach to give children the best hope of survival. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicefusa.org.
For additional information, please contact:
Richard Alleyne, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.880.9177, ralleyne@unicefusa.org
