Hope For Every Afghan Child + Special Ukrainian Segment
April 30, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm CST
Since 2017, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) has held a fundraising gala every spring to recognize and raise funds for global calamities supported by UNICEF, a United Nations agency focused in providing developmental aid to children worldwide. This tradition has brought together various members of our community, allowing us to expand our worldview and make a difference for those in need. For our sixth annual event, the UNICEF at UIUC Gala Committee has chosen to highlight Afghanistan. In light of the grave humanitarian crisis currently unfolding, we are seeking support from the entire campus community and beyond to empower Afghan children.
On April 30, 2022, beginning at 7:00 pm CST, UNICEF at UIUC will be hosting its Gala, Hope For Every Afghan Child. We are excited to share that our fundraising event will be held in-person this year at the Illini Union Rooms ABC in Champaign, IL!
Last Year's Gala Success: Although UNICEF at UIUC modified its Gala traditions and held its 2021 Rebuilding Beirut Luncheon on Zoom Webinar, we raised a grand total of $1,032.25!
The conflict in Afghanistan has continued for two decades, exacerbated by the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2021. As Afghanistan battles its ongoing socio-economic crisis, a worldwide pandemic, human rights atrocities, and food insecurity, over 9.7 million Afghan children remain vulnerable—in dire need of humanitarian assistance. The Afghan population has fallen victim to natural disasters, which has claimed more innocent lives. Afghanistan's government is failing to address malnutrition and the increasing health challenges posed by COVID-19. To make matters worse, international donors have suspended most non-humanitarian funding and frozen billions of dollars in assets, considering the country's fragile economic state. Without this critical funding, millions of Afghan women and children are forcibly being displaced.
Our Hope For Every Afghan Child Gala will be divided into two parts:
- The first half will focus on raising awareness about the current humanitarian situtation in Afghanistan (*including a special emergency segment on Ukraine*). Guest speakers will give their personal testimony during this portion, TedTalk-style.
- Following this, we will be coordinating a Q&A session between presenters and event attendees. The panelists will address attendee questions, which can be pre-submitted or asked in real time. Learn more about pre-submitting questions in the section below. A networking "After Party" event will also occur after the Q&A portion.
Instilling hope among Afghan children is a group effort. UNICEF at UIUC needs your help.
**All proceeds from the gala and ticket sales will go to support UNICEF’s lifesaving work for children in Afghanistan.**
**The Hope For Every Afghan Child Gala will follow UNICEF USA's child safeguarding best practices.**
Tickets can be purchased by clicking on 'Get Tickets!' in the top-right corner. Then, there are two ways that questions can be submitted:
- Upon ticket purchase, insert your question(s) when prompted with: "What question do you have for the panelist(s)?"
- Email us at unicefuiucgala@gmail.com with the subject line **Question for Panelists**
Please ask any questions regarding UNICEF USA's work in support of UNICEF, non-profit involvement, and student activism. Our diverse panel of speakers will be discussing their non-profit work in support of Afghan refugees, political advocacy for every child, and the following areas of UNICEF's work: health/nutrition, WASH, education, and social protection.
