Ethiopia, 24 September 2010: Great Ethiopian Run launches 'I’m Running for a Child' campaign
ADDIS ABABA, 24 September 2010 – The Great Ethiopian Run, in partnership with the United Nations, today launched its fundraising and awareness campaign for children for 2010 – “I’m Running for a Child – Narrow the Gap to Meet the Goals.” During the tenth staging of the Run, the campaign seeks to raise a minimum of one million birr for social protection and welfare projects, including those run by two local NGOs, Mary Joy and Abebech Gobena. The fundraising campaign is organized in the context of the 5-year countdown to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The campaign will highlight the positive achievements in Ethiopia as well as stimulate debate on strategies to address the remaining challenges to meet the MDGs by the year 2015. At the same summit, UNICEF is calling for 'Achieving the MDGs with Equity'. Spending on the most disadvantaged and at-risk children and families, concentrated in the greatest numbers, in the hardest-to-reach locations is the most cost-effective way and efficient manner to reach the MDGs. “The United Nations in Ethiopia is joining hands with the Great Ethiopian Run for a unified five-year campaign," said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Representative to Ethiopia. “The principle and purpose behind the campaign is the need to raise awareness that the only way Ethiopia will achieve the MDGs in Ethiopia is to do so with equity, ensuring the hardest to reach and the poorest are not left behind. UNICEF’s contribution to this campaign is the “Running for a Child” advocacy and fundraising campaign, which recognizes that the majority of the MDGs are focussed on children and therefore the importance of a special attention to Ethiopia’s youngest citizens.” Since 2005, The Great Ethiopia Run in collaboration with UNICEF has been raising funds for local charitable organizations. So far, over 1 million birr has been raised, with more than ten different charities benefiting. For Further Information Please Contact: Dr. Kerida McDonald, Chief, Communication Cluster, UNICEF Ethiopia. Indrias Getachew, Head, Media and External Relations Unit, Commication Cluster, UNICEF Ethiopia Ermias Ayele, General Manager, Great Ethiopian Run. Dagmawit Amare, Office Manager, Great Ethiopian Run.
Related links Press release: UNICEF partners with Frog Design for major Mhealth initiative Press release: Health extension workers and health care facilities play a vital role in promoting good breastfeeding practicesIn Ethiopia's parched regions, a water and sanitation programme reaches out With UNICEF and European Union support, young women in Ethiopia lead the fight against FGM |
