Real lives
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© UNICEF/SWZK00183/Pirozzi |
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Outside a youth-friendly Centre in Kaliningrad, Russian Federation |
Real Lives tells the stories of children in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States whose lives have been touched by UNICEF.
For interviews and diary pieces, click on the left menu.
Most recent articles:
From Dead Ends to New Beginnings: A groundbreaking new project in Kutaisi transforms the lives of young probationers
ODESSA, Ukraine 15 October 2009 – It's a busy morning in Public Polyclinic Number Five in Ukraine's southern city where many parents have brought their children for vaccination.
Children and young people in Gori have a new centre for learning and development
ODESSA, Ukraine 15 October 2009 – It's a busy morning in Public Polyclinic Number Five in Ukraine's southern city where many parents have brought their children for vaccination.
UNICEF helps to rebuild vaccination trust in Ukraine
ODESSA, Ukraine 15 October 2009 – It's a busy morning in Public Polyclinic Number Five in Ukraine's southern city where many parents have brought their children for vaccination.
We Love to Learn: UNICEF and the Government of Georgia give war-affected children a revitalised learning experience
October 2009 - At two schools near the Georgian city of Gori, the education of children and young people like Nino has been enhanced by UNICEF’s donation of computers and modern learning aids and books.
Gulazyk & Early Childhood Development: Two wings of success for the health and minds of children
October 2009 - UNICEF Kyrgyzstan investigates the success of one of their programmes in the countryside and talks to the mothers whose children have over the last two months been receiving the vitamin-mineral supplement Gulazyk.
Magic Journey - Children's TV travels from Kyrgyzstan to Turkey
October 2009 - The cartoon "Magic Journey" from Kyrgyzstan was one of the few programmes selected by TRT.
Rumanetsa and Enchev dedicate their new single and video to UNICEF campaign
SOFIA, Bulgaria - 17 September 2009 - Rumanetsa and Enchev launched one of their most emotional projects in partnership with UNICEF and Bon-Bon children vocal group.
Famous Montenegrin singer visits baby-friendly maternity ward in Bar
BAR, MONTENEGRO - September 8, 2009 – Andrijana Bozovic, famous Montenegrin singer, joined the campaign “The Early Years-An Opporutunity of a Lifetime” by visiting a baby friendly maternity ward in Bar.
Ukrainian TV station wins regional ICDB nomination
NEW YORK, 15 September 2009 – UNICEF today announced the nominees for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Awards.
We need 12 hugs a day to grow up - Hug Day 2009 in Bulgaria
13 September 2009, SOFIA – Hundreds of children and their parents gathered this Sunday in Borissova Garden to participate in UNICEF “Big hug” event.
Uzbek children demand a greater say from adults
ODESSA, Ukraine 15 October 2009 – It's a busy morning in Public Polyclinic Number Five in Ukraine's southern city where many parents have brought their children for vaccination.
UNICEF and IKEA help make schools more interesting for children in Tajikistan
KHATLON DISTRICT, Tajikistan – 3 September 2009 - Going through new books on the shelves in her school library, 11-year-old Bahtinisso cannot hide a happy smile. She becomes even happier as she sees several DVD cartoons on a new television set.
A Kyrgyz local hero fights to protect the rights of street children in Bishkek
Mr. Petrushevski founded the Bishkek Centre for Street Children six years ago and has become a father figure to around 1,000 young people who have since passed through the facility.
Talk to children whenever they have done something wrong
“The Early Years – An Opportunity of a Lifetime” – awareness raising campaign by UNICEF Montenegro and the Ministry of Health from August 1 until October 31, 2009
Families in Kyrgyzstan hit hard by global recession
In the run-up to the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child – a landmark international agreement on the basic human rights of all children – UNICEF is featuring a series of stories about progress made and challenges that remain.
Child-friendly spaces help conflict-affected children play and learn in Georgia
The village of Lamiskana lies a few hundred metres from disputed territory. People here live with an ever-present tension, and many children witnessed violence during last year's conflict.
Uzbekistan studies its way towards quality education through interactive learning
ODESSA, Ukraine 15 October 2009 – It's a busy morning in Public Polyclinic Number Five in Ukraine's southern city where many parents have brought their children for vaccination.
Khedi chooses breastfeeding
A mother feeding her baby at the breast – there is something inexpressibly beautiful about that sight.
10th peace camp for young people in the North Caucasus
NALCHIK, Russian Federation - July 12, 2009 - The 10th peace camp was organized by UNICEF in close collaboration with the regional authorities within the framework of the UNICEF Peace and Tolerance Program in the North Caucasus.
Early Childhood Development kits help conflict-affected children in Georgia
15 July 2009 – In August 2008, some 127,000 people were forced out of their homes by the fighting in and around South Ossetia, Georgia. Although the majority of them have since returned, appr. 30,000 will not be able to go back in the foreseeable future.
To save a genius: Doctor Takhir Khojaev
“From the moment when a baby with low survival chances is born, neonatologists and resuscitation experts have only two or three minutes to resolve the basic question – whether the child will live or not,” says Doctor Khojaev.
Milosevac, a village full of family warmth
While hundreds of children live without parental care in homes around Serbia, a small village in the Donje Pomoravlje region has fostered over 5,000 children who have been denied the possibility of living in their birth families.
Defending the rights of juvenile offenders in Georgia
RUSTAVI, Georgia, 26 June 2009 - Under juvenile justice reforms supported by UNICEF, Tornike was released into the care of his family on 12 months' probation.
Educating children about unexploded ordnance in post-conflict Georgia
KIRBALI, Georgia - 17 June 2009 – Life is gradually returning to normal for most children at the Kirbali Village School near Gori following last year's conflict which resulted in large numbers of civilian casualties.
In Georgia, old schools find new ways to teach young children
TBILISI, Georgia, 9 June 2009 – At Kindergarten No. 31 in the Georgian city of Rustavi, many teachers still conduct their classes using methods developed during the former Soviet era.
Introducing the Russian J8 team 2009
The winners of the Russian contest "The world through the eyes of youth" were announced today. The four young people chosen by the jury will represent the Russian Federation at the J8 Summit in Rome this coming July.
Helping children be prepared for natural disasters in Uzbekistan
FERGHANA, Uzbekistan, 27 May 2009 – Pupils at Secondary School Number Three in Ferghana know the dangers posed by natural disasters in their region.
Fostering trust to help prevent HIV in Uzbekistan
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, 20 May 2009 – Yurunatuz is a Roma community in Margilan, Uzbekistan. Intravenous drug use is an issue here, as is lack of education about HIV.
Teenager advocates for child-care reform at regional forum in Kyrgyzstan
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, 14 May 2009 – Maftuna, now 15, was only four years old when her mother died, but she remembers many things from her childhood.
Speaking out - Children from institutions address high-level conference in Central Asia
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - May 12, 2009 - Ministers from central Asian governments are meeting in Kyrgyzstan for the next three days to discuss how they can reform their child care systems.
UNICEF supported outreach cuts HIV’s spread in Uzbek communities
Yurunatuz is a Roma community in Margilan, Uzbekistan. Drug use is a real problem here and 10 people of the 810 strong group recently died of AIDS.
Improving care for mothers and newborns in Uzbekistan
FERGHANA, Uzbekistan, 4 May 2009 – Maftuna Yakubova beams with pride over her newborn baby boy in the maternity ward of the Perinatal Centre in Ferghana, eastern Uzbekistan.
Special Olympics and UNICEF collaborate in Romania to promote inclusion and acceptance
CLUJ, Romania, 27 April 2009 - Special Olympics and UNICEF have joined forces in Romania to build inclusive communities for children with intellectual disabilities.
Educating children about unexploded ordnance through art and drama in Georgia
GORI, Georgia, 3 April 2009 – The risks of war don’t end when the last tanks and soldiers have vanished. For people in villages and cities affected by bombings, post-war danger can lurk in the most ordinary places.
Photo exhibition of conflict affected children’s photos – All We Want is Peace!
TBILISI, Georgia - 26 March, 2009 - A UNICEF supported photo-exhibition displaying the photos of children from Gori and nearby villages is being opened today at the Cinema Hall Amirani.
Ak-Sai community together against the crisis
Ak-Sai village, Kyrgyzstan - February 2009 - Due to the current winter energy crisis, started in 2008, there is no electricity available in the township and families are suffering with immediate as well as long-term damage to their stability and overall s
Supporting the fragile ties of a family
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - February 2009 - In addition to growing prices for food and basic commodities, the population currently struggles with a ruthless winter energy crisis.
A long way to school
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - February 2009 - The beacons of hope have been recently lit for eight-year-old Nurlan Junushaliev. A few months ago, when he arrived at the UNICEF supported Rehabilitation Centre for Homeless and Disadvantaged Children, in Bishkek.
Hope on the verge of existence
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - February 2009 - In Ak-Jar, as in other parts of the country, there is currently no water or electricity.
Protecting the health and well-being of the future generation
In the middle of March 2009, a new Law on Breastfeeding and Marketing of Milk Substitutes comes into force in the Central Asian Republic of Kyrgyzstan.
Losing Face
“In traditional places, new habits don’t succeed”, repeats Naim Kabashi from the village of Apterusha in Rahovec/Orahovac an often-heard local saying by way of explaining the persistence of traditional views defining the position of women in society.
A new life
When the literacy course was initiated and local Women’s NGOs supported by UNICEF were doing an assessment to identify the girls and women that were illiterate and were interested in taking up the opportunity, Besa was one of the potential candidates.
Turkmenistan children voice their opinions on a new UNICEF-supported TV show
Aired specifically for young viewers, a new TV show introduces children to all possible concepts pertaining to their rights, development and participation.
A community that cares for each and every child
The Village Education Group was created in Baetovo as a part of the Community Management Education Project initiated by UNICEF.
Metamorphoses of the most popular children's cartoon in Kyrgyzstan
This cartoon has won the hearts of almost every girl and boy of Kyrgyzstan and stimulated the creators to want to use media even more to serve Kyrgyz children.
‘Nur’ – A ray of change
In the year 2008, the centre ‘Nur’ was created to support young children and their families in the Batken province in the south of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Launch of campaign for improvement of services for young children with disabilities and their parents
ZAGREB, Croatia - 10 February 2009 - In cooperation with corporate and media partners, national experts and parents' associations UNICEF Croatia launched a new campaign aimed at raising awareness on the rights of children with disabilities.
More children are getting birth certificates in the Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia
The distribution of birth certificates was part of the ten month project on registering children’s birth in the Kvemo Kartli Region and addressing the problems hindering civil registration.
Inclusive school in Ingushetia: One year on
A year ago, in February 2008, with UNICEF’s support, school # 10 became the first inclusive school in the North Caucasus.
Finnish actor, Ville Haapasalo, learned how UNICEF is helping disadvantaged children in St. Petersburg
At the end of January a girls' orphanage and a Day care rehabilitation centre for disadvantaged children in St. Petersburg were visited by unusual guests...
UNICEF-backed youth friendly service centres help Kazakh teens solve problems and develop art skills
Youth friendly service centres that were created with UNICEF’s support and initiative in Kazakhstan in 2004 are helping teens and adolescents who find themselves in a difficult situation, believe in themselves and become confident in life.
UNICEF will open 17 new psychosocial recovery centres in Chechnya
UNICEF together with the ministries of education and science, health, labour and social development of the Chechen Republic started establishing psychosocial centres for children and their families.
Giving juvenile detainees the right to education in Moldova
CHISINAU, Moldova - 20 January 2009 – With support from the Swedish International Development Agency, UNICEF has recently launched basic education programmes for children at four preventive detention facilities in Moldova.
Tajik population vulnerable to another harsh winter
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan - 18 January, 2009 - An estimated 800,000 people require emergency food assistance in Tajikistan.
Hold my Hand - Premiere of a feature film produced by young artists in Kosovo
January 16, 2009 - Prishtine/Pristina - UNICEF supported the initiative of a group of young artists at Prishtina Film to produce a film which aims to raise the awareness of the public on the issue of drug abuse.
Promoting 'baby-friendly' practices for modern mothers in Kyrgyzstan
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, 15 January 2009 – In a small delivery room at Kyrgyzstan's National Maternal and Child Health Centre, Nargiza Umuralieva is in labour, awaiting the birth of her second child.
Quality salt with high iodine content on top of the agenda in Kyrgyzstan
TALAS, Kyrgyzstan - 16 January, 2009 - "We intend to do all we can so that the population of Kyrgyzstan consumes quality salt with high iodine content."
Getting ready for school in Tajikistan with Child-to-Child approach
Tajikistan - January 2009 - Early education opportunities in Tajikistan are severely limited; only nine percent of children attend preschool nationwide.
‘Framing Our World’ workshop trains young photographers in Uzbekistan
Fifteen Uzbek children recently studied the elements of photography with renowned photographer Giacomo Pirozzi through a workshop called ‘Framing Our World’, sponsored by UNICEF and the Uzbekistan Ministry of Public Education.
Goodwill Ambassadors beat the drum for children's issues
7 January 2009 - UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors have made the headlines in the year 2008 throughout the CEECIS region.
