UNICEF UK Children's Champions at our first training day in September. © UNICEF UK/2012/Rosie Reed Gold
We thought that we could
make better headway campaigning for children if supporters got more involved
and actually took our messages to MPs directly by becoming Children's
Champions. When I organised training in September and sent an email invite
to our campaigners, I was unsure how it would go as we'd never done anything
like this before. But I was overwhelmed with the response. We had over 200
replies for just 35 training spaces!
The training day was a
great success, with campaigners of all ages from across the UK coming
together to learn about the campaign and what they could do to help. Since
attending or following online, 13 Children's Champions have already arranged
meetings with their MPs, to talk about how they can help protect children from
the effects of climate change by supporting the Green Climate Fund before the big international conference (COP 18)
at the end of November.
Every time I hear about
another Children's Champion meeting their MP, it reminds me why I'm doing this
job! The more people who feel inspired to become active citizens, confident to
hold those in power to account, the closer we will get to living in the kind of
world we want. Together we are powerful.
Here's what Mohamed, our
first Children's Champion to meet his MP, fed back:
"I had a very good meeting
with Tom Brake, the deputy leader of the House of Commons, who asked a lot of
questions and eventually said that he will speak with Ed Davey and see what
they could do. He was very supportive and enthusiastic about our campaign. He
agreed with me firmly on UK
historical share in the problem of climate change, and he also said that
he believes that every country with a historic share should participate with
higher shares. He finally agreed to take a photo, asked me to tweet it to him,
and shared it on Twitter."
Get involved!
- It's not too late if you want to become a Children's Champion too. Email me at mplobby@unicef.org.uk
and I'll send you everything you need to know and do to meet your MP this
autumn.
- If you don't have time to visit your MP, you can still make an impact by emailing them asking for their support. The more personal you make your email, the more impact it will have. Take action now.
Huge thanks to Mohamed
Abdelnabi Imam, Shamil Haroon, Ruby Smith, Angelie Torne, Mary Kangere, Rahila
Khan, Samina Khan, Katie Cox, Rosalie Williams, Nick Stanton, John Salussolia, Ashweena
Ramkurrun and Iloegbune Fredrick, our first 13 Children's Champions to get
meetings with their MPs!
Natasha Adams is Activism Officer at UNICEF UK