At a glance: Finland

UNICEF in Finland

© UNICEF Finland

Finnish school children show their UNICEF Walk passes.

The Finnish National Committee for UNICEF was founded in 1966. The Committee’s work is supported by around 2,000 volunteers who in 2002 alone raised more than $900,000 through product sales and events. The Committee as a whole generated a total of $6-million, the same year.

UNICEF Finland supports regular and emergency programmes in more than 15 countries worldwide, with a special focus on support for programmes in African countries.

The Committee has helped education needs of children in Mozambique, Eritrea, Guinea and  Niger), health and immunization challenges in Chad, Niger, Mozambique and Ethiopia, safe water and adequate sanitation programmes in Chad and  Eritrea and provided for improved nutritional  needs and programming of children in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

UNICEF Finland supports UNICEF’s work in Asia (Nepal, India, Vietnam) and neighbouring areas of Russia to protect children from exploitation and assisting those who find themselves in especially difficult circumstances, such as children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.

The Committee’s main campaigns and nationwide activities include:

• The UNICEF City project, a rotating campaign carried out by a city nominated as “UNICEF City” for one year.
• Thirst Day, combining advocacy, fundraising and a street collection for water-related projects in Africa.
• The UNICEF Walk, combining sports events and fundraising activities. 
• “Ylen Hyvä,” a fundraising and information campaign conducted jointly by UNICEF Finland, Finnish Red Cross, FinnChurchAid and Yleisradio, the country’s largest broadcasting company. 
• Global Movement Finland, an initiative involving a group of top Finnish business leaders from companies such as Nokia, Kesko Corporation and Finnair, which focuses on advocacy and peer-to-peer lobbying for child rights with a particular focus on girl's education