UNICEF and schools have been working together on Day for Change for over 20 years. We ask schools to make a change in their day and ask students, staff and parents to make a donation to UNICEF for making that change.

Each year Unicef choose a different country and a different theme. For the Day for Change 2013, the focus is food and the country is West Africa. Nutritious food is essential for children to grow up healthy.

UNICEF helps Hunger is the greatest scandal of our age. It kills more people than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

UNICEF helps Two million children die each year because of malnutrition. Yet we produce enough food to feed everyone. Even if they survive, the effects of malnutrition can last a lifetime, stunting their physical and mental development.

UNICEF supports children by providing health care, nutrition and education. UNICEF helps

Supporting vulnerable children What do you do when you feel hungry?

Supporting vulnerable children What do you think is the longest time you have gone without food?

Supporting vulnerable children Do you ever wonder why the food you eat is important- apart from just stopping you from feeling hungry?

For most of us when we feel hungry we eat something. Supporting vulnerable children

We may have to wait a while until we get home, or until its time for the next meal. Supporting vulnerable children

We often say things like “I’m starving” but were not really. Supporting vulnerable children

Not really starving and we don’t usually have to wait very long before we can eat again. Supporting vulnerable children

If you have ever been hungry for a long period of time, you will know that it makes you dizzy and weak. Its hard to think what it must be like to be hungry like that nearly all the time. But for many children in the world this happens for days at a time. Supporting vulnerable children

This is Amadou. He is is 10 years old Supporting vulnerable children

Amadou lives in West Africa Supporting vulnerable children

He has eight brothers and a sister. Amadou’s mum and dad grow their own food and keep cows. Supporting vulnerable children

Food has to be shared between everyone, and for a long time, there has not been enough to eat. Supporting vulnerable children

The weather in West Africa is very hot and dry and this means the crops won’t grow and cows are dying. Supporting vulnerable children

Amadou’s mum and dad are very worried about how they can get food for their children. Amadou is worried too. He is hungry and feels poorly all the time. Supporting vulnerable children

Amadou and his mum walked to the UNICEF cereal bank. UNICEF gave grain to the village to store during the dry season, and now it’s piled high everywhere. Supporting vulnerable children

Amadou’s mum pays for the grain and they buy nearly twice what they would be able to get at the market. Supporting vulnerable children

. Without UNICEF’s help, Amadou’s mum would not be able to buy any food and Amadou would have nothing to eat. Supporting vulnerable children

. Amadou, his brothers and sister and mum and dad all sit down to eat porridge. Yum! This is possible when you help UNICEF to help people like Amadou. Supporting vulnerable children

Day for Change By taking part in Day for Change, we are helping children like Amadou have a better future. Please buy cakes at our Bake Sale!