Posted by: UNICEF Canada
December 23, 2024

Despite 2024’s challenges – from conflicts to crises to climate disasters – UNICEF continued to deliver for children in urgent need. We’ve collected four stories to show the impact that you, our supporters, have helped make on the lives of children around the world this year. Stories where we all collectively came together to create a better world for every child. 

Protecting Gaza’s children from polio

A child is seated and holding an infant on their lap inside a tented shelter.
In Gaza, baby Alaa’s is held by her sibling after getting vaccinated against polio. "Vaccinating my daughter was a relief after so much struggle,” says Alaa’s mother, Anwar. “I am grateful to UNICEF for providing vaccines for children.”

With the support of our donors and partners, UNICEF delivered a critical polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, reaching more than half a million children under the age of 10. The paralyzing disease surfaced in July after 25 years.

Despite challenges including limited humanitarian pauses and access restrictions, health workers were able achieve 94% coverage.

The polio campaign not only helped protect the children from the deadly disease; it also highlighted the resilience of health workers who delivered on their promise through mounting difficulties. 

Ensuring children continue learning in Afghanistan

In a classroom, a girl wearing a white headscarf reads from a book as a UNICEF worker stands beside her.
In Afghanistan, nine-year-old Khadija reads from a textbook in her community-based education classroom.

More than half of all children in Afghanistan do not attend primary school. Thanks to donor support, UNICEF has established new community-based education (CBE) classrooms in remote villages across Afghanistan, where children can have a safe space to learn and play with other children.

In 2024, UNICEF supported both public and community-based education (CBE) for grade 1 to 6 and reached 2.7 million children. Nearly 18,000 community-based education (CBE) classes across the country are UNICEF-supported, reaching more than 564,000 boys and girls.

Providing relief during emergencies

UNICEF staff and partners distribute over 300 dignity kits to displaced families from Al Jazirah, in 6 Arab gathering site, Kassala state.
UNICEF staff and partners distribute over 300 dignity kits to displaced families from Al Jazirah, in 6 Arab gathering site, Kassala state.

Children caught in emergencies faced incredible challenges to their rights and survival in 2024. With generous support from our donors across Canada, UNICEF delivered for children in emergencies, providing essential health, nutrition, education, and water and sanitation services.

In just the first half of 2024, UNICEF provided these supports during emergency response: 

  • Primary healthcare for more than 26 million children and women; 
  • Safe drinking water for over 17 million people;
  • Access to education services for nearly 10 million children;
  • Screening of wasting (severe malnutrition) for more than 12 million children.

Thanks to donor support, UNICEF can be there before an emergency strikes and stay for as long as we’re needed. 

Youth take centre stage in Ottawa

Youth advocates at the UNICEF Canada’s Youth Advocacy Summit in Ottawa during National Child Day.
Youth advocates at the UNICEF Canada’s Youth Advocacy Summit in Ottawa during National Child Day.

We saw the power and the promise of youth leadership in action on November 20 at UNICEF Canada’s Youth Advocacy Summit in Ottawa. Marking National Child Day, young advocates capped off a year of learning and building youth-led solutions to the issues that matter most to them in the Youth Advocacy Program.

These diverse young people from across Canada engaged directly with influential leaders including the Hon. Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development; Canada’s Ambassador to the UN Bob Rae; award-winning journalist and Chief Political Correspondent at the CBC Rosemary Barton, and many more. At the summit, the youth advocates shared their unique perspectives on critical issues like education, healthcare, mental health, climate change, and racism and discrimination.

Our work for children continues 

We don't know what 2025 will bring, but one thing remains clear – UNICEF will never stop defending the rights of children and ensuring they have everything they need to grow up healthy, educated and safe. UNICEF depends entirely on donor support to prepare, stay and deliver for children. It is thanks to the generosity of our supporters, like many of you across Canada, that we can continue our life-saving work, for every child.

Thank you for making a real difference in the lives of children around the world in 2024. 

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