Road to Awareness

Road to Awareness 2011 supporting UNICEF’s education projects in Pakistan and Romania

‘Education empowers people with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to shape a better future’

This year, in addition to running the Check Out for Children guest fundraising program, Starwood EAME aims to raise US$250,000 through the Road to Awareness employee fundraising campaign. With this funding UNICEF will supply vital equipment and education materials for 58 schools in Pakistan and Romania.
Background on Pakistan and Romania

Pakistan

There are nearly 6 million children not at primary school in Pakistan. The devastating monsoon flood emergency in 2010 caused further harm to children’s education. With over 10,000 schools damaged, UNICEF is working hard to get children back quickly into a safe learning environment. As well the need to get children into school, there is also the need to help them stay in education. For instance, more than 30% of children do not complete a primary education in Sindh province, south Pakistan.

In 2011, Road to Awareness will help upgrade eight child-friendly schools in Sindh, one of the area’s worst hit by the emergency. Road to Awareness will provide school supplies such as stationery, backpacks, first aid kits, playground materials, and sports equipment. In addition, fully equipped Early Childhood Education Centres at the 8 schools will cater for pre-school children. Road to Awareness will also support a Back to School campaign in Sindh, using radio, posters, and street theatre to inform parents of the value and importance of education.

About 1,600 boys and girls will benefit immediately. Many thousands more will gain from learning in a child-friendly environment over the coming years.

Romania

In Romania, due to poverty and discrimination, as many as 400,000 children are not going to school. An estimated 95% of Roma children do not get the chance to go to secondary school.

Working with families, communities, schools and government, UNICEF has launched a ‘School Attendance’ campaign to increase enrolment and reduce dropout among Romania’s most disadvantaged children.

Schools urgently need basic equipment and learning materials. With support from Road to Awareness, UNICEF will be able to provide furniture, blackboards, sports equipment, and computers to 50 schools in the poorest Romanian communities.