At a glance: Ireland

UNICEF in Ireland

© UNICEF Ireland

Irish popstar and actress, Samantha Mumba, is a Special Representative for UNICEF Ireland. Among her responsibilities, she acts as spokesperson for UNICEF Ireland's annual “Kids Helping Kids” campaign.

UNICEF Ireland was established in 1962 and is the only Irish aid agency that focuses exclusively on providing assistance to and for the world’s poorest children. UNICEF Ireland has a driving passion to build a better world for children in which every child’s right to dignity, security and self-fulfilment is achieved.

UNICEF Ireland provides funding for worldwide programmes as well as direct funding for a growing number of country specific programmes in the areas of health, water and sanitation, education, child protection and emergency relief. Currently, UNICEF Ireland directly supports 12 programmes world-wide in eight countries, namely Afghanistan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Iraq, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

UNICEF Ireland Special Patrons include Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan and Mick McCarthy. Samantha Mumba and Maxi are UNICEF Ireland Special Representatives.

All of UNICEF Ireland’s programmes are 100 per cent funded by donations from the Irish public, both public and private sectors. Throughout the year, UNICEF Ireland’s major fundraising initiatives include the annual UNICEF Ireland/Conrad Dublin Mother’s Day Lunch, the ‘Kids Helping Kids’ Campaign and Aer Lingus’s Change for Good.