ADDIS ABABA – UNICEF today called on the Ethiopian public to join efforts to realize the dreams of thousands of orphans and vulnerable children by taking part in this year’s Dream Team Campaign for the 2007 Toyota Millennium Great Ethiopian Run.
“There is nothing more tragic than to see children losing their chance for a decent and fulfilling life because of lack of a caring, protective environment and resources to get a basic education,” said UNICEF Representative Bjorn Ljungqvist. “The Dream Team Campaign is a great way to support some of the most disadvantaged members of Ethiopian society.”
There are an estimated six million orphans in Ethiopia today. Nearly 900 000 of them have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS virus. To provide support and protection for these children, more than $250 million is needed each year.
“We call upon concerned individuals and organizations, particularly the private sector, to come on board this campaign and do something meaningful for Ethiopia’s most vulnerable children. The money raised will help break the cycle of poverty and vulnerability for many of Ethiopia’s children, particularly those living with HIV and AIDS. As the Campaign slogan says – ‘Run for Fun, Run for Funds!’”
Convened by UNICEF and the Ethiopian Scouting Association, the 2007 Dream Team is a national advocacy campaign asking Ethiopians to support their country’s children by running for charity in the 2007 Millennium Toyota Great Ethiopian Run.
Participants are asked to sign up for the dream team by buying a race pack for 250 birr. Runners are encouraged to put a team together out of friends, families and colleagues to increase the amounts raised and compete against other teams participating in the campaign. Individual runners and teams can raise additional funds by soliciting sponsorship from individuals and organizations for completing the ten kilometer race. Runners can then take part in the run, with T-Shirts and Medals for everyone who crosses the finish line in Addis Ababa’s Meskel Square on 25 November.
Through UNICEF, the money will fund skills and vocational training initiatives across Ethiopia, creating vital financial lifelines for the most vulnerable of children including those living with HIV AIDS.
For Further Information Please Contact:
Dr. Kerida Mcdonald, Chief, Communication Cluster, +0115 18 40 18, 0911 50 20 22, kmcdonald@unicef.org
Indrias Getachew, Communication Officer, Media and External Relations, +0115 18 40 26, 0911 25 40 18, igetachew@unicef.org
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