Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF Newsletter ISSUE 34Fall/Winter 2013

w w w . u n i c e f . o r g . h k

© UNICEF HK/2012

FeatureUNICEF

In Focus

Hand in hand with UNICEF• UNICEF Regional Ambassador Miriam Yeung’s trip to Myanmar – one of Asia’s AIDS rampant areas

• UNICEF HK at United Nations Our unique influence to fight for every child

childhoodReclaiming

@UNICEF HK/2013

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Message from the Chairman Subscribe to UNICEF NewsI bet you don’t knowIn focus •Reclaimingchildhood

•UNICEFHKAmbassadors&Supporters

champion“RighttoPlay”together

UNICEF feature DiscoverUNICEFafreshthroughdifferentstories •UNICEFHKatUnitedNations

Ouruniqueinfluencetofightforeverychild

Hand in hand with UNICEFOurworkwouldbeimpossiblewithoutourambassadors,partners,volunteersanddonors •UNICEFRegionalAmbassadorMiriamYeung’s

triptoMyanmar

Reports from the fieldRevealingworldwidecrisesthataffectchildrenandfeelingUNICEF’scareforeverychild •Adropofsafewatersavesamillionof

Syrianrefugeechildren

At a glanceAdvocacy and education activitiesForthebettermentofcominggenerations •WorldBreastfeedingWeek2013

BreastfeedingSupport:ClosetoMothers

Fundraising activitiesEverydollarbringshopetocountlessvulnerablechildrenandwomen •NearlyHK$11MraisedforSichuanYa’anEarthquake

Speak upLetushaveyoursay •Getcloserto“ZEROAIDS”withBABY-DorophyTang

UNICEFCharityRun2012and2013T-shirtDesigner

•Breastfeeding:Mothers’sacredduty!-MiriamYeung,

UNICEFRegionalAmbassador(EastAsiaandPacific)

Acknowledgements“Friends of UNICEF”

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Judy ChenChairmanHongKongCommitteeforUNICEF

The Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF

TheHongKongCommitteeforUNICEF(UNICEFHK)wasfoundedin1986asanindependent,

local,non-governmentalorganisationtoraisefundstosupportUNICEF’sworkthroughpublic

donations, company partnerships and special events. UNICEF HK also advocates for and

promoteschildren’srightsthrougheducationalandyouthprogrammesinHongKong.

UNICEFisattheforefrontofachievingZEROSUFFERINGamongchildrenworldwide.Therehas

beensubstantialprogress:UNICEFhascontributedtosaving17,000morechildren’slivesper

daythanbackin1990.Yetstill18,000childrendieeachdayfrompreventablecauses,with

6.6millionchildrenarenotreachingtheirfifthbirthdayeachyear.Ourmissiondoesnotstopat

“17,000fewer”deathsperday.WestopatZERO.

Message from the Chairman

Have you evermet the ’head-down tribe’?The younger theyare, themore it seems to devastateme. Iwonderwhat it isaboutkeepingtheirheadsdown.Isitcausedinpartbyeasilyaccessible game consoles, mobile devices or tablets? Doesit reflect a need to escape academic or peer pressure? Is itbecausetheirparentsconsistentlyneglecttheirneedtoplay?Orhavetheever-shrinkingplaygroundsbecometoo‘nano’?

Onethingisforsure–thechildrenofHongKongarebeingcriticallydeprivedofqualityplay-time,spaceandfreedom.Withoutplay,there isnorealchildhood,letalone joyfulandwell-roundeddevelopment.Now, is thatnotsomething toworryabout?

Infact,fungamescanbeeffortlessandevenfree.Thisissomethingmy2-year-oldsontaughtme.Ioftencomedowntohislevel,ofbelowonemetre,andlistentohisgreatideas.Duringplay,hetakes incharge,andashisplaybuddy, I try toreadhismindandrespondtohisrequestasifIamalsoachild.Oureveryplay-time,isourpreciousmemoryfilledwithlaughterandfun.

Eveninthemostimpoverishedcounties,withjustsomeoldtyres,abranchofatreeanda stretchof sand, ifwe let children’s creativity take flight, brilliantgamesandbrightsmileswillfollow.

AsmuchasUNICEFsafeguardschildren’slivesthroughtheprovisionofcleanwaterandnutrition,wealsobelieveindevelopingeverychild’sfullpotential.ThisiswhytheHongKongCommitteeforUNICEF(UNICEFHK)hasdecideduponallchildren’s“RighttoPlay”asour themefor thisyear.Throughvariouscampaignsandevents,wewillraisepublicattentionontheissueofunbalanceddevelopmentofourchildren,aswellastheimportanceofplayandencourageparentstoletchildrenclaimbacktheirfreeplay,foratleastonehourofeveryday.Wehopethatthroughtheaboveaction,wewilledgeclosertoachieving“ZeroUnderdevelopment”amongstourchildren.

In this issue, besides exploring the responsibilities of parents, communities andgovernmentinensuringthe“RighttoPlay,”wewillalsocheckoutsomefunplayideasfromdifferentcountries,aswellaswaysinwhichUNICEFHKisfighting,withintheUnitedNationsGeneralAssembly,tohelpdeliverabetterlifetotheworld’schildren.

Wishingallchildrenthejoyofplay!

Yourssincerely,

Message from the Chairman

Let children PLAY!

I bet you don’t knowWhatis it?

(Pleaseturntop.13foranswer)

©UNICEF/NYHQ2010-2382/OLIVIERASSELIN

“Share Every Child and the latest newsof children worldwide with your family and friends!”

The Council Chairman:MsJudyChenVice-Chairman:DrMaggieKoong,BBS;MrJohnnyNgTreasurer:MrBonHo

Secretary:MrDouglasSoCouncilMembers:MissAuKing-chi;MsMayChiu;MsMargaretCoates;

Mr David Fong, BBS, JP; Ms Leonie Ki, CPPCC Member, SBS, JP; Mr Leon Lai, BBS, MH; Dr Maurice Leung;

MrGilbertMo;MrsCorinaWong;MrDickyYip,MBE,BBS,JP

Subscribe to E-edition

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BELIEVE IN ZERO 54

In focus

Compared to the 1970s, children now spend50 per cent less time in unstructured outdoor activities.1Childrenaged10to16nowspendonly12.6minutesperdayinvigorousphysicalactivity.However,theyspendanaverageof10.4wakinghourseachdayrelativelymotionless2.

Roundtheworld,manychildrenare removed fromplay,andthusa realchildhood,becauseofseveralobstacles (see table).Childrenshouldbeprovidedat leastonehourof freeplayeachday,not just toenablethemtolosecalories,buttoenrichtheirlives3.

1.Justeretal.“MajorChangesHaveTakenPlaceinHowChildrenandTeensSpendTheirTime,”20042.Straussetal.,“PsychosocialCorrelatesofPhysicalActivityinHealthyChildren,”20013.AmericanAcademyofPediatrics,Ginsburgetal.,“TheImportanceofPlayinPromotingHealthyChildDevelopment andMaintainingStrongParent-ChildBonds,”Pediatrics,January2007)4.Barros,Silver,andStein,“SchoolRecessandGroupClassroomBehavior,”Pediatrics,February2009

Childobesityhasbeenalreadygetting increasedattention. It cannotbeovercomesimplybyexhortingchildrentoeatahealthierdietandexercise.Asuccessfulanti-obesityeffortmustinvolvemoreactiveplay.Playisessentialtomaintainingahealthyweight.

Playnotonlymakeschildrenhappy,butalsofosterstheemotionaldevelopmentandwell-beingofchildren.Playcanhelpchildren regulateemotional responses todisturbance, reducestress levels,enhance theirabilitytocopewithuncertaintyandallowforthedevelopmentofotherskills.

Playsupportsnovelneuralconnectionsandchangesthearchitecturalstructureofbrainregionsthroughitsownvalueandthatoffabulation.AccordingtothestudyfrommedicaljournalPediatrics,childrenwhohavemoretimeforrecessinschoolarebetterbehavedandlearnmore.4

When the 2008 magnitude-eight earthquake struck Wenchuan,Sichuan,the4-year-oldboyHaoDongwasbadlyinjuredintheearthquake.Helosthisparentsandbeingcaredforbyhisoldgrandmother.

Hao Dong became bad-tempered, introverted and even refused tocommunicate with those around him. However, when Child FriendlySpaces(CFS)specialistsandvolunteersfromUNICEFinvitedhimintothe‘homeland’,amiraclehappened.

AfterthreeyearsofplaytherapyandgroupactivitiesatCFS,althoughHaoDongseldomsmileandstillbeashyboy,hisgrandmothersaidhehasbecomemoreoutgoingandmorecheerful.HaoDongbecamealittlevolunteerintheCFS,“Therearelotsoftoysandbooks.Icanalsomakemanyfriendswithotherchildren.”

Invariousdisasters,apartfromprovidingsafewater,food,hygieneandemergencysuppliestoaffectedchildrenandtheirfamilies,withintheshortestperiodoftimeUNICEFalsoestablishesCFStodelivertoysandsocio-psychologicalsupporttochildren,aswellasshelterinwhichtohelpminimisetheirsuffering.Todate,over45CFShavebeensetuptoservechildrenandtheirfamiliesinChina.

Child-Friendly Spaces– UNICEF RESUME PLAY FOR DISASTER-AFFECTED CHILDREN

AT LEAST ONE HOUR PER DAY

COMBAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY

FOSTER EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BETTER BEHAVE AND LEARN MORE

of playBENEFITS

Children are born PLAYERS

©UNICEF/NYHQ2013-0048/MARTARAMONEDA

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of surviving children who received support from CFS successfully recovered from their pain. About 10 per cent of the more severely traumatised children have also resumed normal lives, after receiving

psychological counseling or specialist psychological

treatment.

90%

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AdultsunawareoftheimportanceofplayParents’fearsofchildsafetyExcessivepressureforeducationalachievementToomanystructured,programmedleisuretimeTechnologyandthecommercialisationofchildren’splayGrowingroleofelectronicmediaLackofaccesstonatureNeglectoftherighttoplayindevelopmentprogrammesResistancetochildren’suseofpublicspacesUnsafeplayenvironments

Source:CommitteeontheRightsoftheChild,GeneralcommentNo.17 (2013), The right of the child to rest, leisure, play,recreationalactivities,culturallifeandthearts(Article31)

THAT STOP CHILDREN FROM PLAY GLOBALLY

obstacles10

Play – especially among children – is any physical activity that is fun and participatory. Children have a natural inclination to play and they are born players. Play is the key to children’s all rounded development. When consistently lacking the opportunity to play, children can be at increased risk of depression, anxiety and attention problems. Perhaps we are too removed from our own childhoods and have forgotten what ‘true play’ and the value of play are.

Let’s reclaim childhood!

childhoodReclaiming

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Children have the right to decide what and how to play, rather than following instructions given by adults all the time. Active exploration is a key to play, invent and create.

A flat refusal when children want to play may have negative impact on children. Adults should support and facilitate children’s play whenever they express the will to play.

Every child needs to play. Happiness as a result of play is crucial to children’s development as it helps relax and relieve stress.

It includes playgrounds, recreational facilities and spaces designated for children, reflecting parental attitudes towards play, enhancing children’s opportunity to play and choose what and how to play.

BELIEVE IN ZERO 76

TRUE PLAY SHOULD BE…

Is your child deprived from

1Libya 3Mali2Nicaragua 4Liberia

Child-oriented

In focus

Boys play table football using scrap plastic baskets and tubes in Libya.

Children from Nicaragua make up a rolling game out of wooden sticks which they readily pick up.

Siblings enjoy a ‘rocking chair’ made of iron sheeting outside their home in a village.

The civil war in Mali, Africa, has resulted in many children losing their homes. A displaced group of children play marbles and peanut shells in the compound.

Anytime & anywhere Playable Space Growing fun

and healthy

Play should not take place driven by any external goal. Interest classes are often structured under adult direction and with external goals in mind. Thus, these

are not ‘free play’ and these benefits are not equal

to those derived from play.

Extra Curricular

Activities = Play?

spend less than six hours playing with their children every week, while children spend more than 11 hours watching TV, playing computer games and surfing the internet every week

(Source: A survey conducted by UNICEF HK’s partner,

Playright Children’s Play Association)

Over half of the parents

Play has many benefits, but many Hong Kong children are under excessive academic pressure, or with structured activities that keep them away from the happiness and benefits arising from ‘true play’. Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) advocates for children’s “Right to Play” in Hong Kong by promoting the essence of play to the public and working with partners that share UNICEF’s vision in striving for “Zero Underdevelopment” for Hong Kong children.

“Right to Play” together

UNICEF HK AMBASSADORS& SUPPORTERS CHAMPION

YouTube

“I played football since I was five or six, and I couldn’t imagine my life without sport. I hope children in Hong Kong get to enjoy sport and play, just like I did.”

Manchester United player Adnan Januzaj

©UNICEFHK/2013

©UNICEFHK/2013

On 28 July 2013,Manchester United playersAdnan Januzaj andJesseLingardtooktimeoutoftheirAsiaTourtojointhe‘UnitedforUNICEF’HongKongPlayDay,andhelpHongKongchildrenexplore‘trueplay’byengaginginsports.

The football stars coached 40 childrenaged6to12yearsinsomesimple,child-orientedgames -dribblingballs aroundcones,throwingandcatchingandkickingfootballsinpairs,aswellasjoininginabattleofdodgeball.Thechildrenweresohappy to take part in this football funandevenchatwiththeirfootballidols.

RenownedcyclingchampionSarahLeeWai-szewasappointedasUNICEF HKAmbassador inMarch. She has committed to devoteherselftoadvocateforchildren’s“RighttoPlay”.

WhenSarahwasyoung,oneofherfavouritepastimeswasplayinggameswithherneighboursoutdoors, suchashideand seekandthrowing handkerchiefs. She also recalled that in her childhood,sheenjoyedplayingwithherbrotherontheirtricycle.Itisplaythatinspired Sarah and helped make her the outstanding and toughathletethatsheistoday.

Sarahtrulybelievesthatchildrencanrelaxandlearntocommunicatebetterwithothersthroughplay.Sheenjoyedplayingagiantballwith400otherparticipantsduringherappointmentceremony.

Everychilddeservesthe“RighttoPlay”,regardlessoftheirage,genderandabilities.Theplay spaces shouldbe safe, accessible andprovideawide range of opportunities that accommodate all ages and levels ofabilityordisability.

UNICEF HK has partnered with Playright Children’s PlayAssociation tolaunch‘PlayrightUNICEF Inclusive Play’ project last year,which aims toimprove the play situations of those children with physical impairmentby educating and promoting the concept of an ‘inclusive playground’.ChildrenwithphysicalimpairmentfromspecialschoolsandNGOspartnersareregularlyinvitedtovisitandenjoyqualityinclusiveplayfacilities.

Tofurtheradvocatefortherightforchildrenwithdisabilities,aprofessionalguideline on playground development will be released this year and bedistributed to developers, including the Leisure and Cultural ServicesDepartment,BuildingsDepartment,UrbanRenewalAuthority,etc.Wehopethattheguidelinewillserveasareferenceinplanningandrenewalofplayfacilitates,andsettingupofinclusiveplaygroundsinHongKong.

InoursecondyearofcollaborationwiththeAcademyofFilmfromtheHongKongBaptistUniversity, tochampionchildren’s“Rights toPlay”and foryoungpeople tocreatevideoson play opportunities in Hong Kong, UNICEF HK has co-organised the “Believe In Zero,MakeAVideo”Competition2013tocreatevideosregarding“Myviewonthesituationofchildren’splay inHongKong”.Over100youngpeopleattendedthe“Action!CreateYourOwnSuperheroes!”trainingworkshopinJune,tolearnmoreaboutthe“RighttoPlay”andwatchthedemonstrationvideoCallingforPlaywhichwasproducedbytheeventsupporter“HeiwardMakxPlaytime”.

The competition received overwhelming response,with over 80 teams of youth enrolled.Thewinningvideosshownotonlyyouth’screativity,butalsotheirparticipationinpromotingchildren’s“RightstoPlay”.Winningandshortlistedvideosarenowavailableatwww.unicef.org.hk/makeavideo

spearheads child rights

disabilities

UN Convention?

with

“Believe In Zero” !

Manchester United Stars!

A cycling champion

Not to exclude children

“Right to Play” is protected by

Make A Video if you

Football fun with

“Play calms me down and nurtures my courage to face challenges and handle stress during cycling competitions.”

UNICEF HK Ambassador Sarah Lee Wai-sze

“Diligence has its rewards, but ‘Play’ also has its own benefits! True Play is the key for all children. They can play anytime, anywhere. Play doesn’t cost lots of money. The most important thing is to make it child-oriented. Let them decide what to play and how to play!”

Event supporters “Heiward Mak x Playtime”

When children play electronic games, they are passively receiving excessive number of images and messages instead of interacting with people. It can never

measure up to ‘true play’.

Electronic Games = PLAY?

8 EVERY CHILD 9

In focus

AccordingtoArticle31oftheConventionontheRightsoftheChild,childrenhavetherighttorelaxandplay,andtojoininawiderangeofcultural,artisticandotherrecreationalactivities.

©UNICEFHK/2013

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“Everychildisentitledtotherighttobeeducatedandreachherorhisfullpotential.”MsChensuggestedhoweducation,ontheotherhand,could reduce inequality. Uneducated children are more likely to betraffickedorforcedtowork.Girlsoutofschoolingaremorevulnerabletochildmarriageoftenfallingintotheviciouscycleofprematurebirth,highmaternalmortalityandchildmalnutrition.

Globally, 57million children are out of school. 250million childrencannotread,writeorcount.Someareatschoolforaroundfouryears.InSeptember2012,theUNSecretary-GeneralMrBanKi-moonlaunchedthe‘GlobalEducationFirst Initiative’,tocall forworld leaderstoputeducationasanumberonepriority,sothatallchildrenwillbeinschoolandlearningby2015.

MsChenwas invited to attend theUNGeneralAssemblytoparticipatein a thematic debate on ‘Inequality’,where the UN Secretary-GeneralMrBanKi-moon,UNICEFExecutiveDirectorAnthonyLakeanddelegatesaroundtheworldwerealsopresent.Shewasthefirstnon-governmentalofficial representative from ChinaandHongKong invited todeliver aspeechataUNmeetingofthiskind.

InMsChen’s10minutespeech,sheemphasisedgender, race,socialandhealthstatusasonly factors thatnurturechildren’sdiverseexperience inlives,not‘excuses’forunfairchildhoods.

“Everychildisequal.”MsChenadded,“Ifwecontinuetoturnablindeyetotheinequalitiesandunfortunateamongthem,wewilljustseehundredsand thousandsmorechildren,with resentmentanddespair in theireyes.Howcouldwefailthem?”

Ms Chen highlighted the importance of child participation in reducinginequality.ShetookthechildrefugeesinSyria,left-behindchildreninChina,newimmigrantandethnicminoritychildreninHongKongasexamplestoillustratethephenomenonofandreasonsbehindglobalinequality.

A number of activities initiated or supported by UNICEF HK, such asVoices ofYouth and Children’s Council were mentioned by Ms Chen in

theAssembly,toshowcasechildren’sinspiringandwisecommentsonsocialinequalitythroughdifferentchannels,andcontributetoreducinginequalityandmakingtheworldabetterplace.

For thesakeofcallingout international leaders toput‘EducationFirst’onthisglobalplatform,Harrison dedicated his first speech to fighting for the equality of ethnicminorities students inHongKong.HewasdistinguishedastheonlyChinesedelegateselectedtogiveaspeechintheUNYouthAssembly.

IntheAssembly,HarrisonsatnearMalalaYousafzai,thePakistanigirlwhowasshotbytheTalibanbecause of her advocacy of girls’ education. Harrison renewed his resolve to fight for qualityeducationforallafterlisteningtoherfirstpublicspeechsincetheshooting,“Shesaid‘Onechild,one teacher,onebookandonepencan change theworld.‘”Harrison said,“Theeducationwewantisnotamereactofputtingeveryoneinschool,butalearningprocessthatpreparesyoungpeopleforfuturelifeandwork.”

SpeakingofeducationinHongKong,Harrisonespeciallycaresabouttheethnicminoritystudents.He thinks that education system in Hong Kongmostly favours the native Chinese.The subjectChineseLanguageistorturetoethnicminoritystudentsinHongKong,andwithoutcommandingthistheyhavenowaytoequipthemselveswithknowledgeappropriateforworkanddevelopment.

“I feel stronglyabout theirplight,because I see similaritieswithmygrandfather,aHakkawhofledtoHongKongduringChina’scivilwar.HespokeneitherCantonesenorEnglish,sohecouldhardlyfindajobinthecity.Butbecausethepublicschoolsystemgavehisson,myfather,therightlanguageandotherskills,myfather’sgenerationfaredwellintheircareersandinlifeingeneral.”

Lastyear,someHK$50millionwasspenttosupportnon-Chinese-speakingstudents.Buttillnow,only13.8percentofethnicminoritiesagedfrom19to24attendschools,comparedto43.8percentoftheentireHongKongpopulation.

AsurveyconductedbyHongKongBaptistUniversityevenfoundthecurrentgovernmentsupportresultedinsegregationandnegativelabelling.“Ifwewereabletochangeonegeneration’sdestiny60yearsago,Idonotseewhywecannotdothesamenowforethnicminoritychildren.”

“Havinganeducationsystemthatpreparesayoungpersonforworkandlifeisnotaprivilege,butaright.”Harrisonsaid.AftercomingbacktoHongKongfromtheUNYouthAssembly,heattendedtheCityForuminlateJulytospeakupforethnicminoritystudents.TogetherwithataskforceofotherYoung Envoys,Harrisonwill hold an advocacy project to strive for quality education thatbenefitsethnicminoritystudentsinHongKong.

“Reducing Inequalities,

“Quality Education for all

Starting with Children”

in Hong Kong”

Advocacy Project

UN General Assembly Thematic Debate

Timeline

UN Youth Assembly

“Our education should fit not only for most, but for all.”

- Ms Judy Chen

- Harrison Chung

10

Jun Jul Oct DecSepfrom from from from

12 Jul

12 Jul

8 Jul

Conducteddesktopresearch

RepresentedUNICEFHKtospeakupattheUNYouthAssembly

VoiceoutforethnicminoritystudentsinHKondifferentplatforms,e.g.CityForum

Leadthetaskforcetomeetdifferentstakeholders(teachers,principals,scholars,governmentofficialsetc.),walkintotheethnicminoritycommunity

Write&submitanopinionpapertorelevantgovernmentdepartments

SetupAdvocacyDivisioninUNICEFHKYoungEnvoysClub

Education for all

Further action

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UNICEF feature

©UNICEF/NYHQ2013-0399/Markisz

©UNICEFHK/2013©UNICEFHK/2013

www.unicef.org.hk/educationfirst

UNICEF HKOur unique influence tofight for every child

at United Nations

As the only specialised organisation under United Nations (UN) working for children, UNICEF has been in a unique position to make a difference for children and to protect children’s rights in both local and global contexts. In July 2013, the Chairman of Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK), Ms Judy Chen and 18-year-old UNICEF Young Envoy Chung Wing-fung paid a special visit to UN Headquarters, to fight for children’s equality in both China and Hong Kong.

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Nearly 70 per cent of Myanmar’s populations live in poorly equipped rural areas with scant resources. As most rural women choose to give birth at home, many of them do not receive antenatal check-ups. Therefore, many of their babies are infected with HIV without their mothers realising.

Worse is yet to come. At some stage, when her grandmother dies, Guest and her two siblings will be sent to an orphanage with no choices.

Seven years ago, while expecting her third child, 40-year-old Ha and her husband were both tested HIV positive. Ha felt guilty and utterly distraught when HIV was tragically transmitted from her to her son.

In a fragile psychological state, Ha fell pregnant again three years later. Wishing a better outcome for this baby, she took part in the UNICEF Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme and during pregnancy received antiretroviral drugs (ARV) to control the disease, thereby giving her baby a 95 per cent chance to be free of HIV infection. Luckily Ha was spared more nightmare. Her little son is now 3 years old - living healthily and happily without HIV.

It is estimated that more than 900 babies continue to be born with HIV every day. 50 per cent of them are destined to die before the age of 2 if they do not receive medication. Yet AIDS should not carry a fixed, unalterable outcome. Thanks to UNICEF’s “Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS” global campaign, 2.33 million pregnant women received HIV prevention, care and treatment services in 2012.

In the past, pregnant women living with HIV had to take multiple antiretroviral drugs (ARV) everyday. In the ongoing fight against AIDS, UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) are now promoting a ‘one pill daily’ treatment. Pregnant women just need to take one pill per day to protect their situation getting worse and help prevent the transmission of HIV to a baby. The tragedy of Guest almost need not happen again.

Entering its eighth year, UNICEF Charity Run 2013 organised by UNICEF HK which aims to raise HK$10 million for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme. All funds raised from the Charity Run will be used to provide new treatment to mothers suffering from HIV, and to support counseling and follow-up services. Recently, UNICEF Regional Ambassador (East Asia and Pacific) Aaron Kwok publicised the four races, that include a Half Marathon, 10km Run, 3km Fun Run and the newly introduced 5km Fun Run. Highlighting the benefits of the ‘one pill daily’ treatment, he appealed to the public for their generous support.

Visually impaired runner Mr Mok Kim-wing, who has supported the UNICEF Charity Run since 2009, announced that 40 members from his team The Fearless Dragon, a group of visually and hearing impaired enthusiastic runners, will join UNICEF Charity Run this year to join UNICEF HK’s effort to promote the goal of an AIDS-free generation.

The UNICEF Charity Run 2013 will be held at the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort on Sunday, 24 November 2013.

Hand in hand with UNICEF

12 13

Childhood without laugh, Future without light

AIDS is not a destiny

If you want to follow what Miriam experienced in Myanmar, please visit www.unicef.org.hk/help

CAN’T SEE, CAN’T LISTEN, BUT HELP!

It is the Acute Respiratory Infection Timer to detect pneumonia. Children from 2 to 12 months old breathing faster than 50 times per minute, or children from 1 to 5 years breathing faster than 40 times per minute is a danger sign for pneumonia. Without x-ray machines and laboratory tests, this low-tech, low-cost device is effective for better diagnostics in rural areas.

I bet you don’t know

(P.3 for question)

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© UNICEF/MLIA2010-00637/OLIVIER ASSELIN

Seven-year-old Guest always looks constantly sad, barely smiling as other children would do. Every day Guest needs to take a lot of pills, with no idea that she is struggling against the torturous virus HIV, transmitted from her mother during pregnancy. Guest doesn’t know that AIDS caused her parent’s deaths three years ago. She is now being cared for by her grandmother who works hard to look after three grandchildren.

UNICEF Charity RunDonate and support now

run.unicef.org.hk

Before ‘one pill daily’ treatment, pregnant women living with HIV had to take multiple ARV per day.

SUPPORT

Miriam Yeung’sUNICEF REGIONAL AMBASSADOR

– one of Asia’s AIDS rampant areas

While Myanmar, Southeast Asia’s second largest country, has become a hot spot for holidays among Hong Kong people, it actually has one of the highest HIV/AIDS infection rates in the region. Last July, UNICEF Regional Ambassador (East Asia and Pacific) Miriam Yeung paid a visit to Monywa in Sagaing of Central Myanmar where she witnessed the effects that AIDS continues to have on the community. She also reached out to AIDS affected children and families and discovered how UNICEF helps people combat HIV/AIDS there.

trip to Myanmartrip to Myanmartreatment by Charity Run,

SUPPORT

Unite to achieve

‘One Pill Daily’ AIDS-free generation

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Reports from the field

1Syria

32 MyanmarHaiti Peru Congo

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A drop of safe water

saves a million of Syrian refugee childrenWith Syria’s war well into its third year, over one million children have now been forced to flee their homeland as refugees. In a remote settlement in northern Lebanon, just a few kilometres from the Syrian border, the cries of infants fill the air.

Ismael, an 8-month-old boy, stares ahead with blank eyes. His mother sobbed that he has been suffering from chronic diarrhoea and vomiting. His sister Aisha has also lost her appetite, with bones protruding from her chest.

“Diarrhoea is a huge problem here, with more and more adults and children getting ill. The water is contaminated, but we have no choice – we need to drink,” Mustafa, the camp leader and a former owner of a

transportation company in Syria said. “I don’t care about my future anymore,” he added. “But I care about the future of these children.”

UNICEF and its partners have organised an on-going response. A mobile clinic is sent to the settlement, with water purification equipment such as chlorine tablets, water filters and water tanks. The contaminated borehole has been rehabilitated, with pits dug for dirty water and emergency latrines set up.

UNICEF has been sending therapeutic and supplementary food to help children with severe and moderate acute malnutrition. Training has started for technical staff and paramedics, and seven malnutrition management centres have also been set up.

After being taken to hospital for treatment, Ismael and Aisha are in a stable condition and slowly recovering. They are likely to survive because they were treated in time.

Children make up half of all refugees from the Syria conflict with more than 768,000 under 11 years of age. Most arrived in the neighbouring countries of Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. The largest humanitarian operation in history has seen UNICEF and partners mobilising support to millions of affected families and children.

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In Haiti, 22 per cent of children under the age of 5, experience chronic malnutrition. In remote rural areas, families lack knowledge of food nutrition and the majority struggle to afford food to supplement their meagre diets.

UNICEF adopts nutritional interventions to tackle the challenge. Community meetings are held to educate families in planting different fruits for balanced diets and to provide young children with a multiple micronutrient powder known locally as Bebe Vanyan for the daily necessary vitamins and nutrients critically needed for their development.

A one-month supply of the supplement costs only under HK$7.8 (US$1) and can greatly increase a child’s chance of survival, especially during the first two years of life. Since May 2012, more than 600,000 packs of Bebe Vanyan have been distributed to over 6,900 children and the results have been remarkable.

Bebe Vanyan replenishes children’s nutrition

Ethnic conflict erupted in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in last October, displaced 115,000 people and caused much loss of life and livelihood. Affected people have since been living in overcrowded temporary sites without adequate access to basic services.

Mara Thida, mother of two, has been in a temporary camp for months. She says her family has no income and only a tiny hut for shelter. Waterborne disease is a great risk.

UNICEF and partners have distributed basic hygiene items, built latrines and safe water supply sources and promoted good hygiene practices. An education assessment has also been conducted to enable children to catch up on school lessons that have been missed for months.

Responds to the needs of children in Myanmar, across ethnic lines

In last November, pop singer-songwriter and UNICEF supporter Lady Gaga paid a surprise visit to a UNICEF’s child friendly school in the poor Ventanilla District, where poverty, violence, mistreatment, gang activities and drug use contribute to keeping many children out of school.

Lady Gaga shared her experiences with bullying as a teenager with the youngsters. She delighted them with a short verse of her song ‘Born this Way’. “All children have the right to feel valuable, and everybody has a shot – but not everybody has a fair shot. So, I think what UNICEF does is try to make the shot a little more equal.”

Lady Gaga singing surprises Peru students

Pascal, 15, fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo when rebels attacked his village. He crossed the border to Uganda’s Rwamwanja refugee settlement, one of many unaccompanied children who hoped to with families or villagers since fighting broke out in 2011. In the past, workers had to fill out masses of forms to gather all the relevant details and it took lots of time asking people if such children were known to or by anyone.

But now UNICEF has introduced a mobile phone application called RapidFTR and this makes the process much easier. Information about and pictures of each child are entered into the phone. Protection officers can access the data instantly and can even begin to trace family members before the child arrives. Children are now able to reunify with family or villagers faster and easier.

Mobile application helps family reunification

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At a glance Advocacy & ACTIVITIESeducation

Every year, over 800,000 children die because of poor breastfeeding practices.Topromotebreastfeedingasababy’s‘first immunisation’,UNICEFBabyFriendlyHospital InitiativeHongKongAssociationconductsaWorldBreastfeedingWeek(WBW) survey every year.This year’s results show over 85 per cent ofmothersbreastfeedondischargeofhospitals,thehighesteverin20years.

However,breastfeedingmothersneedcontinuoussupportfromthecommunity.IntheWBWcelebrationevent,mothersperformeddrama tovoice theirday-to-daydifficulties,e.g.inadequatebreastfeedingroomsincompaniesandpublicfacilities,lukewarmsupport fromhusbandsand family,etc.UNICEFRegionalAmbassador(East Asia and Pacific) Miriam Yeung also talked about her breastfeedingexperiences.Formore,pleasereadonp.17.

On20April,2013,anearthquakeatYa’an,inthesouthwestofSichuanprovincemeasuring close to seven on the Richter scale, led to the deaths of over 190personsandtheinjuriesofthousands.HongKongCommitteeforUNICEF(UNICEFHK) immediatelyallocatedHK$1million from itsemergency fundtosupport thereliefandreconstructionwork.MorethanHK$10.9millionwasraisedtoproviderelief and rehabilitation in health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation.In addition,Child Friendly Spaces offering recreation and sportswere set up toprovidesocio-psychologicalsupportandarttherapyforchildren.

joint“ChangeforGood”inflightfundraisingprogramme.AboutHK$2.34million(US$300,000) of these donations will be used this year to support the childprotection programme, protecting children living andworking on the streets infourprovincesofVietnam.Sincetheprogrammewaslaunchedin1991,passengershavedonatedmorethanHK$133milliontosupportUNICEF’sworkacrossmorethan150developingcountriesworldwide.

million(US$5million)towardsresolvingtheeducationproblemsofworld’schildren.Thiscampaignwillrunagainthroughout2013,withpartoftheproceeds,raisedfromthesaleofthebrandnew“SignatureforGood”Collectionthroughtheirownstoresandretailers,goingtowardsvulnerablechildrenviaUNICEF’ssupportoftheSchoolforAfricaandSchoolforAsiaandeducationprogrammesinLatinAmerica.ItisexpectedtobringHK$11.7million(US$1.5million)andhelpchildrenexploretheirfullpotentialthrougheducation.

With the unfailing support of Cathay PacificAirways, HK$14.3 million was raised through our

Montblanchasbeena staunch supporterofUNICEFsince 2004, and has helped to raise over HK$39

World Breastfeeding Week 2013Breastfeeding Support:

Close to Mothers for Sichuan Ya’an EarthquakeNearly HK$11M raised

Last school year, 25UNICEFClubs all together organised77childrightseducationalandpromotionalactivities,andraised$35,000forUNICEF’sglobalwork.Amongthem,BeliliosPublicSchool and La Salle College UNICEF Clubs co-organised ajoint-schoolinteractiveworkshopforchildren.Throughcreativegames,dramaandsoapmaking,theClubsspreadthe“CleanHands Save Lives” message and raised children’s awarenessofpersonalhygiene. In thenewschoolyear,we lookforwardto receiving more great child rights news and updates fromUNICEFClubs!

in Legislative Council

the Club torch!Pass

Children Councillors a lifetime experienceYoung Envoys

SinceitsreturninApril,theVoicesofYouth(VOY)havebeenproducing30episodesof15-minuteradiosegments,coveringtopicsrelatedtogrowthanddailylivesofchildrenand youth, as diverse as schools’ turning to the Direct Subsidy Scheme, Children’sRights Forum, valueof volunteering,whether tutorial classes arenecessity, childrenundercompetition,friendshipofGenerationY.Besideslocal issues,VOY’syouthalsopresents‘UN trivial facts’,aone-minutevoice column introducingworld issuesandnurturingtheHongKongyouthtobecomeglobalcitizens.

Thissummer,47UNICEFYoungEnvoysvisitedYunnan,ChinaandIndonesiatowitnessthelivingconditionsofchildrenindevelopingcountries:slums,riversfilledwithmosquitoworms,‘houses’madeofplasticclothandwoodenboards.Theylistenedtotheheartoforphansthroughtheirbandmusic.Theyhuggedandgavecomforttoagirlwhowasrapedbyherrelatives.Andtheydancedwithchildrenleftbehindwellintothenight.Allthesearenotjustmemories,butarealsoexperiencestoequipandmotivatethemtocontinueadvocatingforchildren’srights.

If you are full-time students aged from 12 to 18, apply to become a UNICEF Young Envoy now! (Deadline: 1 November 2013)

ChildAbuse,theHongKongCommitteeonChildren’sRightsandUNICEFHK.TheyhadreceivedtrainingsinceJulytolearnabouttheirrightsaswellas the needs of variousHongKong children. In the training camp, theypresented their own concerns and practiced the right to participation,voting for the three most important ‘children’s issues’.What is of thegreatestappealtoHongKongchildren?Howdotheydiscussanddebatechildrelatedissues?PleasetuneintotheChildren’sCouncil,tobeheldintheLegislativeCouncilon23November!

Seventychildrenaged12 to18participated intheChildren’sCouncil co-organisedbyAgainst

Learn to be a global citizen

Listen toVoices of Youth, would like to say

Listening to what our Street Fundraising Ambassadors

UNICEF VOY

UNICEF Young Envoys

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Whenlifecomestotheend,itdoesnotmeanthatyourloveandcontributiontotheworldwillfadeaway.JoinUNICEFHK’sPlannedGivingProgramme,tobrightenthefutureoftheunderprivilegedchildren,andmakeyourloveanddevotiontosocietyaneverlastingone.

TheworkofUNICEFheavilyreliesonyourcommittedandcontinuoussupport.Fordetails,pleasecontactusat28362951oremailatjoyce.kwan@unicef.org.hk.

Dearall,

As Face-to-Face ambassadors, we aim to inspire the publicaboutUNICEF’sdailyworkindifferentplacesacrosstheworld.We seek their continuous support of the“FriendsofUNICEF”monthly donation programme, which enables UNICEF to runlife-savingprogrammesinover150developingcountries.

Although we cannot save lives like doctors in the field, oureffortsarehelpingmanychildrenaroundtheworldregainhopeandlaughter.Thissenseofpurposeandmissionmotivatesustokeepmovingforward.

Wethankallofyouwhostoppedtogreetorgiveusasmile,indicatinggreatsupportandrecognitionofourworkoutonthestreet.

WehopeourpassionimpressesupontheHongKongpeopletocontinuecontributingtoUNICEF’ssustainedandstablesourceoffunding.Webelieveeveryonecanchangetheworldandmaketheworldabetterplace.

Yourssincerely,Face-to-FaceFundraisingAmbassadors

to protect Vietnam’s kids“Change for Good”

fight for education for disadvantaged children

Montblanc

Pass love on

Date: Every Saturday Time: 4-6 p.m.Channel: RTHK Radio 2 (FM 94.8 - 96.9)

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“Believe In Zero, Make A Video” Competition Academy of Film, Hong Kong Baptist University Ming Pao Newspaper Limited Photoblog.hk Sony Corporation of Hong Kong Limited Tai Po Old Market Public School (Plover Cove) Timable.com Yahoo! HK Young Post, SCMP Dr. Chan Ka Lok Sobel, Senior Lecturer of Academy of Film, Hong Kong Baptist University Heiward Mak X PlayTime Mr Johnny HuiMr Jin Hua-qing, Chinese Director

“Change for Good” Inflight Fundraising Programme Cathay Pacific Airways Limited

“Change for Good” Inflight Fundraising Programme Field Visit to Vietnam Cathay Pacific Airways Limited UNICEF Vietnam

Field visit to Qinghai, China Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation UNICEF China Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China Department of Commerce of Qinghai Province Foreign Affairs Office of Qinghai Province Qinghai Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission People’s Government of Xuhua County County Health Bureau, Xuhua County County Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Xuhua County China Eastern Airlines Hong Kong Business Office Shenzhen Airlines Co., Ltd Maxim’s Group Parsons Music Limited

Field Visit to MyanmarUNICEF Myanmar

Fundraising activities of Sichuan Earthquake ReliefArome Bakery Cathay Pacific Airways Limited CSL Limited Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited HKT Limited Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association Hotels under Regal Hotels International Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) Limited Maxim’s Cakes Maxim’s Express Maxim’s Food2 Maxim’s MX Pricerite Sincere Department Store SmarTone Telewide Enterprises Ltd. Times Square

Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF Newsletter Every ChildCathay Pacific Airways Limited Coffee Concepts (Hong Kong) Limited Discovery Park – Shopping Centre Hong Kong Public Library K11 Art Mall New World Development Hotels Sino Group of Hotels Sino Property Services Venture Photography Hong Kong Mrs Libby Nelson

Inspired GiftsCMRS Digital Solution Official Manchester United Supporters Club Hong Kong

Montblanc “Signature For Good” Charity Campaign 2013Montblanc

UNICEF Charity Run 2013Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association M.A.C Cosmetics Alibaba Group Hong Kong Disneyland Resort TSL Jewellery (HK) Co Ltd.Asia Miles Ltd. New World Development Company Limited Nikon Hong Kong Ltd. MetLife Limited Coca Cola China Limited World Genius Corporate Ltd Chiu Hing Construction & Transportation Co Ltd Mannings (Asia) Consultants Ltd Quality Printing Ltd. Seiko – Thong Sia Watch Co., Ltd. DHL Express Hong Kong Commercial Radio 1 Next Mobile Limited Harbour City Salopas MTR Corporation Ltd. Maxim’s Group NWS Holdings Limited Citybus Limited / New World First Bus Services Limited New World First Ferry Services Limited UNICOM Auxiliary Medical Services Harley Owners Group Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps HK Amateur Radio Association Hong Kong Sports Photography Association Hong Kong Stretching Exercise Association Miss Dorophy Tang

UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association ‘World Breastfeeding Week 2013’Department of HealthHospital AuthorityProfessor Sophia Chan, Under Secretary for Food and Health Dr Alexander Chiu, Chairman, Hospital Authority Steering Committee on Breastfeeding

UNICEF HK near field communication (NFC) mobile applicationCheil Hong Kong Limited

UNICEF ‘Voices of Youth’ Online Radio ProgrammeTeen Power, RTHKConfucian Ho Kwok Pui Chun CollegeHong Kong Red Cross Princess Alexandra SchoolHo Yu CollegeMarymount Secondary SchoolQueen’s College Old Boy’s Association Secondary School

UNICEF Young Envoys Programme 2013 AEON Credit Service (Asia) Co., Ltd Discovery Park - Shopping Centre UNICEF ChinaUNICEF IndonesiaMr Lai Yuk Kwong, Non-executive Directors, AEON Credit Service (Asia) Co., Ltd Professor Shek Tan-lei, Daniel, Chair Professor, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDr Lau Yuk-king, Professional Consultant, Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong KongMr Anton Wan, General Secretary, Family Value Foundation of Hong Kong Limited.

‘United for UNICEF’ Hong Kong Play DayHong Kong Police Volunteer Services Corps Manchester UnitedWorld Genius Corporate Ltd.Mr Johnny Hui

Speak up

Iparticularlylovechildren.Perhapsthisisinfluencedbymymotherwhousedtobeakindergartenteacher.Aftergraduation,Idesiredtohavemyowncreation,andtheimageofbabiesnaturallysprangtomymind, leadingtothestartofmysignaturedesign,‘SHOPPINGBABY’.

Lastyear,IwasinvitedbyUNICEFHKtodesigntheUNICEFCharityRun2012T-shirts.IreadilyacceptedtheinvitationandfeltveryhonouredbecauseIstronglybelieveinUNICEF’svisionofprotectingandhelpingtheworld’schildren.Ialsoseethisasagoldenopportunityformetouse‘SHOPPINGBABY’tocontributetoneedychildren,especiallythoseaffectedbyHIV/AIDS.

In linewith theconceptofUNICEFCharityRun2013,“Believe inZEROAIDS”, Ihaveused‘SHOPPINGBABY’asrunnersintheT-shirtdesign.ItrulybelievethattheeducationofpreventingAIDSandrespectingtheillnessshouldstartfromchildhood.IalsohopethatthisdesignwillhelptoraisepublicawarenessoftheimportanceofUNICEFincombatingHIV/AIDS.

Thisyear,Itriedtoshedlightonthepositiveattitudeof‘SHOPPINGBABY’,withthedesignofagroupof‘SHOPPINGBABY’runningonthe‘ribbontrack’,representingthepreventionofAIDSandgivingrespecttoAIDS-affectedpeople.Ihopetoencourageotherrunnersstrivetorunforthegoalof“ZEROAIDS”togetherwith‘SHOPPINGBABY’.

“BelieveInZEROAIDS”isnotjustadream.Itcanbeanachievablegoalthroughusalljoiningtogether.

Peoplethinkcelebritymothersnormallydonotbreastfeed.Idisagree.Tome,celebritiesarenormalpeopleandbreastfeedingisjustlikeamother’ssacreddutythatisnotrelatedtoone’soccupation.

Also,asaUNICEFAmbassador,Ihavenohesitationinsupportingbreastfeeding!Itisafactthatbreastmilkisthemostnutritiousfoodandiseasilyabsorbedbybabies.

Several milk formula companies approachedme to advertise their products and tried to luremewithsponsorshipsbeforemyson’sbirth.Iwasdeterminedtoturndowntheirinvitations,tosetagoodexampleandtoencouragemoremotherstobreastfeedwithUNICEF.

Iexclusivelybreastfedmysonforsixmonthsandaddednowaterandnoformulamilk.

Butofcourse,likeotherbreastfeedingmothers,Iencounteredmanychallenges.Rightafterthebirthofourchild,Iwasnotfullyrecoveredfromthewoundpainbutwaspreparedtobreastfeed.Mybabywantedtobefedfrequentlybutpeoplearoundmekepttellingmewhatahardjobbreastfeedingis.

Ifeltlikegivingup.Butthen,Iwasblessedthatmyhusbandandfamilykeptuptheirsupport.Theysharedmanyofthebabycareduties.Myhusbandevenarrangednutritiousmealsformeforsixmonths,sothatIcouldcontinuetobreastfeedmybaby!

Ifwewantmoremotherstostartandthencontinuetobreastfeed,itisvitaltohavegovernmentandsocietysupport.Ihavevisitedmanyluxuryhotelsandshoppingmallsbutmostofthemdonothaveabreastfeedingroom.Iwasforcedtoexpressbreastmilkinatoilet,whichislike‘eating’inatoilet,nomatterhowcleanitis!Ihavealsoexperiencedthecoldshoulderbyrestaurantwaiters.Theyshowedtheirdislikeasifmybreastmilkwasdirtyandtheywerereluctanttostorebottlesofmybreastmilkinrefrigerators.

Butthefactis-breastmilkismorepreciousthangold!Ireallyhopetopromotebreastfeedingsothatmorepeoplewillhaveapositiveattitudetowardsbreastfeedingandsupportallmotherstokeeptrying.

Dorophy Tang – Illustrator, UNICEF Charity Run 2012 and 2013 T-shirt Designer

Miriam Yeung, UNICEF Regional Ambassador (East Asia and Pacific)

©DorophyTang

©UNICEFHK/2013

©MiriamYeung

©DorophyTang

18SHARE your thoughts andfeelingsaboutanychild-relatedissueswithUNICEFsupporter!

Sendusyourarticlesanytimeatjchan@unicef.org.hk

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