At a glance: Norway

UNICEF in Norway

© UNICEF/HQ97-0021/Noorani

Vendela Thommessen visits the village of Manikganj. Bangladesh, 1997.

The Norwegian Committee for UNICEF was established in 1954. Its 16 staff members work to support the realization of children’s rights worldwide by raising funds through sales of cards and gifts, promoting awareness and encouraging public support for UNICEF in Norway. The Norwegian Committee also represents UNICEF in relations with the Norwegian Government.

Priorities

UNICEF’s five priorities – girls’ education, early childhood, immunization, HIV/AIDS and child protection – are the foundation for UNICEF Norway’s activities. With respect to fundraising, UNICEF Norway focuses on two themes.

1. Education for All in Eritrea is linked to one of the most important Millennium Development goals, and seeks for concrete and measurable results. UNICEF Norway raises funds for Eritrea, getting more children into school and helping them to stay there. 

2. Safe Motherhood and Early Childhood Development in Nepal is based on the Millennium Development Goals of reducing child mortality by two thirds, and reducing maternal mortality by three quarter, both by 2015. UNICEF Norway supports the Decentralised Action for Women and Children (DACAW) programme in Nepal that has achieved very positive results.

National Ambassadors

UNICEF’s National Ambassadors in Norway include Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Vendela Kirsebom Thommessen. Ole Gunnar Solskjær is best known in Norway as a professional player for Manchester United. Soslkjær contributed to the partnership between UNICEF and Manchester United, and is one of the four dedicated Manchester United players selected for this partnership. In 2004, Soslkjær has contributed extensively to UNICEF Norway’s fundraising efforts.

The internationally known model and actress Vendela Kirsebom Thommessen has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 1996, promoting UNICEF’s work for education and the health of women and children. She has travelled to both Nepal and Eritrea in order to help build support for UNICEF’s work in these two countries.

Highlights of activities and campaigns

UNICEF Norway’s fundraising activities, awareness campaigns, and promotional events from the past year include the following:

• Internet auction: Celebrities from the worlds of of art, culture and sports donated more than 70 objects to the auction carried out in November/December 2004. The values of the objects ranged from a few thousand to more than hundred thousand NOK. All the money raised through the auction will be donated to UNICEF projects in Nepal.
• An annual drawing competition is held each year amongst primary school pupils on issues taken from the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The winning drawing is used as a UNICEF greeting card. In addition, a renowned artist is invited to make a collage of all county winners, which is donated to the Norwegian Minister of Children and Family affairs for a year.
• On 5 May 2004, at the international midwives’ day, UNICEF Norway celebrated its 50th anniversary together with the Norwegian midwife association. The activities on this day included a mini-seminar on ‘Best Start in Life’, as well as a fundraising campaign all over Norway to benefit children in Nepal.
• The Norwegian football professional playing for Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, has donated all proceeds from his sponsorship with NIKE to UNICEF Norway, and will continue to do so as long as he is injured. In addition, he has donated 300.000 NOK (approximately $ 45,000) which he earned from a goat cheese advertising campaign in Norway. His contributions will be used to build a school in Eritrea.

© UNICEF/Norway

Ole Gunnar Soskjaer combines his sports duties with support for UNICEF.

• Each year, schoolchildren raise funds through the ‘UNICEF Walk’. Parents and other sponsors donate a small sum for each lap children run around a track. In 2004 these walks, which are now linked with the Millennium Development Goals, have been more successful than ever with respect to funds raised.
• In May 2002, the Committee initiated an education project with the participation of Mrs. Nane Annan and a group of selected managers in Norway. Ten business leaders joined the project to raise money, awareness and enthusiasm about girls’ education in civil society. The project aims to help Eritrea achieve the Millenium Goal of ‘Education for All’.
• A team of retired schoolteachers helps UNICEF by volunteering to go to schools, making students and teachers aware of UNICEF Norway’s educational materials and promoting Education for Development programmes.
• Through the ‘Global Parent’ concept, Norwegians are able to give long-term and predictable support to children by becoming pledge donors, giving a fixed amount of money to UNICEF every month.
• UNICEF Norway is working with several student, professional and other non-profit organizations to help mobilize funds for the two projects UNICEF Norway is supporting. In 2004 this type of fundraising was very successful.

Read more about Ms. Thommessen’s work with UNICEF.