Newsflash UNICEF Italian National Committee visits Eritrea 22-28 June, 2013

June 28, Asmara- Davide Usai, Executive Director of the Italian National Committee for UNICEF and Andrea Lo Cicero, Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEFItaly, visited Eritrea in June in support of children with disabilities and to learn more about the successful Donkey for Schools project. The project, pioneered by UNICEF and the Government of Eritrea, provided 1,000 children with disabilities, living in hard-to-reach areas with a donkey to transport them to school. In addition to increasing school attendance of children with disabilities, the donkeys also assisted families with household chores and contributed to the family income. During the six-day trip, the team from the Italian National Committee met with government officials, community members and children in the Anseba region. They visited projects in Health and Nutrition; interacted with children with disabilities and their families; toured a nomadic school and experienced being in a classroom; and saw first-hand how clean water supply and sanitation programmes are improving lives of people in communities. The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, who recently retired from a successful international rugby career, owns a farm in Italy where he raises donkeys and was particularly interested to learn about Eritrea s Donkey for Schools programme. He shared his experience and knowledge, highlighting the multiple benefits provided by donkeys beyond transport.

Andrea Lo Cicero, Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF National Committee in Italy dances with one of the children with special needs at the Daarit Elementary School in Keren. Also dancing is Charlene Thompson, Communication Specialist, UNICEF Eritrea. Photo: UNICEF Eritrea/2013/Bowen

Children should not pay the price Health

HE Saleh Meki, Minister of

Mr. Andrea Lo Cicero (centre), UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Italy is photographed with former street children who are now attending school through partnership of Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare and UNICEF. Also photographed are from left: Mr. Ghirmay of MoLHW, Mr. David Usai Executive Director of Italian Natcom and Dr. Hamid El Bashir, UNICEF Representative, Eritrea The donkey can offer many benefits beyond transportation, he said. They can be used to provide therapy to children living with disabilities, offer companionship and produce milk that is tasty, he added.

The group was also warmly welcomed by villagers with song, dance and ululations of joy so well known in Eritrea. Before departing, Mr. Usai expressed his gratitude to all the organisers and said the Italian National Committee was committed to support children living with disabilities in Eritrea.

Davide Usai, Executive Director Italian Natcom for UNICEF (left) is seated in one of the classrooms of a nomadic school in Jingerjuba in zoba Anseba. Seated to his right is Ndeye Fatou Ndiaye, Chief of Health and Nutrition, UNICEF Ertirea.

The Theme of the Mont: IN THE SPOTLIGHT The Operati onal Guidelines

DIFFERENT COLOURS AOF TH

Photo credit for all photos (unless otherwise stated): UNICEF/Eritrea2013/Thompson For further information please contact: Ms. Charlene Thompson, Communication Specialist: cthompson@unicef.org

A young girl fetches clean drinking water supplied through Dembeadi Tsegay Water Supply project

A couple in Andelai village proudly display their recently constructed latrine. Andelai village is an Open Defecation-free (ODF) village

Pictorial

Andrea Lo Cicero visiting a health station in Hagaz

Uthman is one of the children living with disabilities who received a donkey to transport him to school. His donkey is also assisting the family with household chores and incomegenerating activities