UNICEF-Georgetown International Development Conference

November 8th, 2009

Last Friday, November 6, UNICEF Georgetown hosted its 2nd annual International Development Conference, co-sponsored by the IRC among other clubs, followed by its 7th annual International Development Dinner. The Conference consisted of experts from many different sectors of international development holding two sets of small workshops in White-Gravenor classrooms, with both a presentation and plenty of time for questions. Topics ranged from the role of Education in Pakistan to the different ways of looking at the problems of world hunger to the re-entrance of sex workers into the productive work force.

Following the workshops, students and experts alike moved to Copley for a Bangkok Bistro-catered formal dinner, where each table had a different theme related to the preceding workshops. At the dinner, Cynthia McCaffery, Senior Vice President of the US Fund for UNICEF, delivered a powerful oratory on the night’s theme: “Believe in Zero,” referring to the goal of lowering the number of preventable death among children from 24,000 a day to 0. Her inspiring speech urged the audience to remember that progress is being made, and that if organizations and individuals work together, there’s no reason not to “Believe in Zero.” Building on past success, coordinating policy among international actors, and investing in the world’s children formed the backbone of her address.

The dinner concluded with the presentation of a $3,740 check from the Georgetown chapter of UNICEF to the US Fund. Thank you and congratulations to UNICEF Georgetown for an excellent conference and a great fundraising effort!

- Michael Lopesciolo