Trick-or-treat? Or spare some change? As the Halloween season comes to an end many of you may be familiar with the children that go door to door not only for candy, but to collect donations with an orange box around their necks. Some may be unclear on why this is done, but a little known fact is October 31st is not only Halloween but also National UNICEF day and all donations go towards the United Nations Children’s Fund. If you were one of those children asking for both chocolate and change you were not alone as Anny Sam was also collecting donations for change. However, her involvement with the organization did not stop at Halloween, as she is now the President of UNICEF at the University of Ottawa.
Anny Sam is a third year University of Ottawa student completing her Honours Degree in Sociology and Anthropology. She shares interests in feminist studies, child advocacy, campus engagement, film and innovating ways to challenge herself in the way in which she thinks. Not only is Anny president of UNICEF at the University of Ottawa, but she is also the Vice-President of Communications Anglophone for the Sociology and Anthropology Student’s Association (SASA) . With whatever time is left over in her day, Anny is working with other students on campus to create a University of Ottawa Film Club as she believes that films are one of the most powerful tools in which we can tell stories. This club is interesting as many of the members are not part of the Arts faculty but just share the appreciation of films.
In her first year at the university, Anny noticed the UNICEF table in the University Centre, since then she has been actively involved with the club as a volunteer, treasurer and currently, president. Many may wonder what the role of the UNICEF chapter is on campus. Sam explains that “UNICEF on campus is a unique student leadership program that provides college and university students an opportunity to learn about crucial global development issues that affect the world’s most vulnerable children. We are in solidarity with the Campus Initiative: university/college students supporting UNICEF’s ability to provide lifesaving programs in over 156 countries and territories around the world by raising funds”. The funds that are raised on campus through pancake breakfasts, guest speaker events, open mic nights and a collaborative fundraiser with UNICEF Carleton, Play for the Kids, go towards developing education, gender equality and survival for children around the world.
When discussing UNICEF on an international level, Sam considers that the most important aspect of UNICEF is the ability to focus on a wide range of issues on different levels to better advance and transform children’s rights around the world. Another important aspect to examine internationally is the ability for UNICEF to work with national institutions and governments to focus on improving better policy with regards to children, along with working closely with local organizations to improve smaller scale living conditions.
Open mic night organized by UNICEF at Café Alt
Getting involved with UNICEF at the University of Ottawa is easy! Anyone on campus can become involved through volunteering or organizing events. By joining the club, you get the ability to learn about different issues around the globe regarding children as well as make new friends with common interests. UNICEF can be reached through several different ways via Facebook, Twitter or by email at unicef.uottawa@gmail.com. Finally, Anny encourages students to engage in various students’ organizations on campus as any interest you may have there is a club, association or society for you to join!
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Photo credits:
Anny Sam