Photo courtesy of: UNICEF at UTRGV
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund at UTRGV is giving students an opportunity to advocate for children’s rights while connecting the university community with the broader mission of UNICEF.
The student-led organization partners with UNICEF USA to raise awareness about issues affecting children, educate the community and support efforts benefiting children around the world.
President of UNICEF at UTRGV, Sidiqot Oyekade[1] , said the organization believes access to basic needs is a fundamental right for children.
“Every child deserves a right to health and education, and it starts with us, and we can provide the advocation needed for the community,” Oyekade said.
Through its presence on campus, the organization also seeks to serve as a connection between students, the surrounding community and UNICEF[2] . This is made possible through volunteering events and fundraising, [3]
Third-year biomedical student and event coordinator for UNICEF at UTRGV, Abner Renteria, said that connection is one of the organization’s motivations.
“Our main motivation is to be able to be the linkers between the community and UNICEF, to be able to provide those resources or at least to make those needs be heard,” Renteria said.
Membership in UNICEF at UTRGV is free, and students can participate in the organization’s activities and advocacy efforts. Students can also pursue leadership opportunities through committees and other positions within the organization.
Beyond its advocacy, fundraising, and educational efforts to support children’s rights and raise awareness of issues affecting children around the world, the organization’s leadership hopes to establish a lasting presence at UTRGV that continues after its current members graduate.
“The aim is to let the organization continue growing even after we’ve gone,” Oyekade said. “We hope, and we want, the organization to keep growing as a massive one.”
Through advocacy, education and student involvement, UNICEF at UTRGV aims to give students a way to bring global issues to the campus level while helping amplify the needs of children and communities beyond the university.
For more information on UNICEF at UTRGV, visit the webpage on Vlink
This is Diego Montano for Vaquero Radio.
