EDUCATION ON WAR ON DISEASE BY UNICEF PACIFIC ISLANDS
Charity Partner Unicef utilised the international race route and Asian stopover to showcase the work they do on the ground in all areas around the globe. During the stopover in Subic Bay, Philippines, the Unicef UK office teamed up with the Unicef Pacific Islands office to hold a virtual activation via video call.
Unicef’s objective of the activation was to profile and raise awareness of the work that Unicef does in communities to improve the welfare of children, sitting alongside the War on Disease campaign which Unicef promotes internationally. The Unicef Pacific Islands team wanted to educate the Unicef crew on the vital work they have been doing in response to the measles outbreak in Samoa in 2019. As the Clipper Race fleet came close to Samoa on its 40,000-nautical mile journey around the world, Unicef saw the opportunity to utilise its partnership with the Clipper Race for this reason.
Attendees and spokespeople from the Unicef Pacific Islands team were; Dr. Frances Vulivuli - Health and Nutrition Specialist who was based in Samoa for several months in 2019 to support the Ministry immunisation programme and the outbreak response; Cate Heinrich - Chief of Communications at Unicef Pacfic Islands who covered all media and communications during the height of measles national vaccination campaign in response to outbreak; and Vika Waradi - Communications for Development Officer who was also based in Samoa for several months in 2019 to support on communication campaign to encourage families to vaccinate their children both before and during the Measles outbreak. Each spokesperson told the Unicef crew, who were huddled together on board the Unicef branded yacht about their experience.
Unicef Skipper Ian Wiggin, AQP Mike Miller and the crew shared their experience of the Clipper Race whilst giving the Unicef Pacific Islands team a virtual tour of the Unicef yacht. They explained what life is like living on board a Clipper 70 and the highs and lows of racing round the world.
Cate Heinrich, Chief of Communication said “It was a great opportunity to share some of the challenges we face in the Pacific Islands to reach children who require our support, such as during the recent measles outbreak in Samoa. The logistics of getting supplies to those who need them most is not easy when the countries we work in are spread out across 15 percent of the world’s surface. The Unicef Pacific Islands team enjoyed hearing from the Clipper Race Crew on all the innovative ways they are raising funds for Unicef programmes around the world.”
Over the past two race editions Clipper Race crew, supporters, staff and race partners around the world have raised over £700,000 and it is hoped that during this race edition we will pass the £1 million mark. It is imperative that momentum is not lost. You can donate to Unicef, or set up and link your own fundraising page, via our JustGivingpage to help reach our target before the Clipper Race fleet arrives completes its circumnavigation in London on the 8 August 2020.