Exercise 1: Research_Dihrran Chong Yun Siong 0139028
Questions:
Introduction of the NGO (General
Information)
1.
What
is UNICEF
§ UNICEF stands for United Nations
Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF, n.d.).
2.
What
do they do?
§ UNICEF supports child health and
nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality education and skill building, HIV
prevention and treatment for mothers and babies, and the protection of children
and adolescents from violence and exploitation (UNICEF, n.d.). Basically, UNICEF mission is to ensure better future for children. That said, they are fighting for sustainable environment for future generations.
3.
Why
are they doing these?
§ UNICEF is driven by the 17 SDGs (UNICEF
data, n.d.). With 3 SDGs achieved the most which is SDG 3 (Good health and
well-being), 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), 17 (Partnerships for
the goals). We can summarize that UNICEF covered most of the essential thing
children should have.
4.
Who
is one of the famous UNICEF ambassadors in Malaysia?
§ Lisa Surihani, 39 years old actress.
She voiced for funds to help children in refugee camp in Bangladesh, raised RM1
000 000 for them. She became a role model as an actress as well as a mother,
showing her advocating characteristics (Choong. R., 2019).
5.
Where
is the location of UNICEF Office in Malaysia?
§ Level 10, Menara PJH, 2, Jalan Tun
Abdul Razak, Presint 2, 62100 Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, open
from 8.00am to 5.30pm every day except weekend. This is important for our group
to ensure that we can allocate our time and plan what should we do when we
visit them (UNICEF, n.d.).
6.
When
did UNICEF join forces with Malaysia?
§ UNICEF joins Malaysia since 1954 (UNICEF,
n.d.). This is because Malaysia doesn't have much policy about children, which makes their voice unheard. Through this dismissive situation, UNICEF made their first step in Malaysia to educate about children rights and welfare. This has become their stepping stone in growing their organization in Malaysia. As time goes, their efforts paid off, children mental health index is balanced and their quality of life also improved.
Organization’s evolution journey:
1.
How
did UNICEF initiate its project during early development in Malaysia?
·
Started
during 1949, UNICEF sends financial aid and foods to children in Malaya, Sabah,
and Sarawak due to malnutrition and diseases. They also vaccinated more than
1million of children to prevent tuberculosis. During this time, it is still an
emergency relief. Then after 1954, it expands from emergency relief to a
development agenda in Malaysia (UNICEF, 2024).
2.
To
what extend UNICEF is planning to contribute to Malaysia?
·
During
the 1950s, UNICEF is focusing on war-affected children health such as
nutrients, polio-affected children, and dental health. But now, they are part
of the largest contributors in social, legal, and protective environments for
children. They also have access to policy level, which makes them the only NGO
which can help government in policy development (UNICEF, n.d.).
3.
What
are the examples of policy that were developed with the help of UNICEF?
·
The
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), its principles are largely
implemented through Malaysia's Child Act 2001, which addresses child
protection, care, and rehabilitation (SUHAKAM, n.d.).
4.
In
this digitalized era, what kind of challenges do UNICEF encounter?
·
Continuous
development of technology including social media raises problem such as exposure
of explicit content to children, child grooming, and cyberbullying. Moreover,
millennial who doesn’t have advanced knowledge with using social media and
Internet doesn’t have effective strategy to prevent these issues (UNICEF, 2024).
5.
How
did UNICEF tackle these problems?
·
UNICEF
worked with youths to stand out, speak out, and highlight these dangers to
children by organizing programmes such as Kindness and Kita Peduli Programmes
which conducted in school, ensuring children to be aware of being online
(UNICEF, 2024). Besides, CRC also highlight the problems, mentioned in
children’s rights in relation to digital environment. While allowing children
to have access to Internet, they should have a non-explicit content online
environment. Besides, spreading of explicit content regardless digital or
non-digital is strictly prohibited, and could be criminalized under Sexual
Offences Against Children Act 2017.
6.
What
is the summarization for the development of UNICEF?
·
During
1940s UNICEF is still considered as an outsider which provides emergency aids
to children. Then in 1960s, UNICEF is developing rapidly, from providing foods,
to healthcare services for children. During 1980s, UNICEF focusing on child
survival and development revolution, which educates mothers regarding their
children education and health. For example, the need for vaccination and going
to pre school project. Lastly, in the 2000s, our current era where modernization
is happening, UNICEF started to concern about how technology affect children’s life
and solve this issue (UNICEF data, n.d.).
The organization’s core cause:
1.
What
is the SDG for UNICEF?
·
UNICEF
aims to cover all the 17 SDGs. However, based on the statistics of achieved
goals, SDGs achieved the most are SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), 16
(Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), 17 (Partnerships for the goals)
(UNICEF, n.d.). This shows that many problems come from healthcare, rights, and partnership. Therefore, UNICEF put in lots of effort to solve the main problems, preventing them from exacerbating.
2.
What
are the values that are prioritized by UNICEF to maintain its organization progress?
·
The
core values are care, respect, integrity, trust, accountability, and sustainability,
these are important to guide the behaviours of members of UNICEF, encouraging
positive environment in their group (UNICEF data, n.d.). Besides, a strong core value will promote a sustainable organization as well, encouraging every employee to practice accountability. Hence, improve overall synchronization.
3.
Aside
from practicing the values above, what are the other method they use to measure
its progress and success?
·
With
annual reports and SDG indicators, UNICEF makes it possible to view progress
and achievements in a detailed way. Annual reports allow them to view overall
activities including financial report, number of children helped as well as the
categories of successful assistance. Whereas SDG indicators function as
statistics of the SDGs progress, providing insights regarding efforts required
to reach the 2030 SDGs targets (UNICEF data, n.d.).
4.
How
does UNICEF get its fund?
·
UNICEF
is supported by voluntary contributions, mostly from private sector and
individuals. The contributions come from many forms, such as direct, indirect
funding, human resources (volunteers, consultants, etc), partnerships, and
other donations (UNICEF, 2023). This raises issue such as not enough funds when society is living in inflation. When the socioeconomic of one country degrades, it involuntarily leads negative effect to the organization.
The mission and vision of the organization:
1.
What
is the purpose of this organization?
·
The
main purpose is to protect the rights of every child. It includes education,
health, nutrition, environment, and clean water. They execute their project by
utilizing decades of field-tested expertise. For example, innovation, data
evaluation, partnerships, research, as well as youth engagement (UNICEF, n.d.).
2.
How
does the mission align with the SDGs?
·
UNICEF
is closely aligned with the SDGs, with a special focus on children as the core
of sustainable development. Start with SDG 1 and 2, UNICEF provide support and
nutrition to end poverty and hunger. For SDG 3 and 4, ensuring children health
and quality education. Then SDG 5, they promote gender equality. SDG 10, focusing
on providing clean water to children. SDG 10 and 16, UNICEF protects children
from violence as well as reducing inequality. Lastly, UNICEF expands its
project globally to achieve these goals (UNICEF, n.d.).
3.
What
makes unicef mission different from other child-related NGOs?
·
UNICEF
is the only prominent children organization that is related to the UN (UN, 2022).
Besides, they also focus more on children’s rights not just solely children
welfare. Lastly, the most obvious one is they have strong global presence.
4.
How
can education institutions contribute to UNICEF’s mission?
·
Quality
education, which is part of UNICEF mission. As well as the 2030 Agenda for
sustainable development “ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and
promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” (UNICEF Malaysia, 2023). Education
institutions need to adapt sustainable learning environments such as allowing marginalized
child to be able to participate in school (Choong. R., 2024).
SWOT Analysis:
1.
Strength:
·
Very
good reputation globally. UNICEF exists in many countries, which makes them a
reliable organization.
·
Fight
for children’s right, not just their welfare, cultivating a bright future for them (Guardian staff
reporter, 2024).
·
Variety
of programmes conducted, aside from focusing on human particularly children,
they also focus on environment, water cleanliness, and partnerships which can
also be the factors of children’s well-being.
·
Concrete
decision when helping children. UNICEF uses data and analyses them to make any
decisions. Therefore, their decision has a strong intention and justification
(Imran et al., 2016).
2.
Weakness:
·
The
programmes conducted by UNICEF are funding dependence. This can be a huge
disadvantage because if they get less fund, then they are not able to conduct
many programmes (Poidevin, 2025).
·
Since
UNICEF is related to the UN, people will have misconception that UNICEF is
doing all the programmes for their fame, not for society and country (What
Have Been Some Criticisms of UNICEF? | Britannica, 2025).
3.
Opportunity:
·
UNICEF
encourages youths to be involved in their programmes, they can act as a bridge
between children and the organization. This allows a more intimate
communication and more understanding about their problems (United, 2025).
·
Utilizing
technology such as social media is a wise choice. Since we are in a digitalized
era, many people will spend their time in social media (Gasser, 2019).
Therefore, this measure can reach more audience in an efficient way. Hence,
educate them online.
4.
Threat:
·
Some
of the activities that they are fighting for is quite sensitive, be it
political and cultural. For example, child refugee and child marriage. Child
marriage exists in certain culture in Malaysia, fighting for no child marriage
can be dismissive to some culture (Miettaux, 2024).
·
Despite
the pros in having access to Internet, misinformation is everywhere (UNICEF
USA, 2024). This causes the organization to be sceptical when gathering data
for analysis. Consuming misinformation can lead to false evaluation, as well as
wasting their funds doing unnecessary programmes.
Organization’s latest creative
campaign:
- Picture of my rights 2023 campaign to express children’s rights.
- World children day 2024. The theme was “Inclusion, for every child”, which emphasises every child is entitled to protection and assistance without any regard to distinction of any kind such as race, gender, colour and social origin.
- C-HAT programme 2023, combat child obesity, from fun activities to nutrition lessons for children to build healthy habit.
Short summary of my reflection:
In
a nutshell, UNICEF is a good choice for our chosen organization since it has vision
towards helping children which can be our primary focus for this creative
campaign. Even though this organization has few drawbacks, but the strength of
this organization far outweighs the weaknesses. Besides, this organization is also
currently active in conducting programmes to spread awareness about children’s
rights. I really feel that this research opened my eyes about the unvisible effort UNICEF did. With the help of Kipling's method, I can grasp a structured comprehension which makes me understand everything they do has hidden intention. From jumbling up the information, to connecting them together, i learned how to apply creative approach in solving problems. Last but not least, this is also a great opportunity for us as we can educate
ourselves about our own rights, and voice out those who unheard.
Reference
About us. (n.d.). Www.unicef.org. https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/about-us
Child-Related SDG Progress Assessment
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CodeBlue. (2024, November 19). Listening
To And Supporting All Children In Malaysia -- Dr Amar-Singh HSS. CodeBlue. https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2024/11/listening-to-and-supporting-all-children-in-malaysia-dr-amar-singh-hss/
Gasser, U. (2019, November 26). AI
Innovators Should Be Listening to Kids. WIRED. https://www.wired.com/story/ai-innovators-should-be-listening-to-kids/?
Guardian staff reporter. (2024,
December 18). How to help beyond the emergency: long-term support brings
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Imran, M., Meier, P., Castillo, C.,
Lesa, A., & Herranz, M. G. (2016). Enabling Digital Health by Automatic
Classification of Short Messages. ArXiv.org. https://arxiv.org/abs/1602.08423?
Lisa Surihani urges extra support for
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Miettaux, F. (2024, September 27). A
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https://www.unicef.org/what-we-do
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pCGox8flM8
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UNICEF Malaysia. (2024, November 18).
UNICEF Malaysia at 70 Pt 6: Digital Challenges. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUxw9gN3x8E&list=PLnndm_XCdLdbUdd_xRBAIhnDvYxC_u1vZ&index=6
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November 18). UNICEF Malaysia at 70 Pt 6: Digital Challenges. YouTube.
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