UNICEF Bangladesh has held a series of activities involving thousands of children as part of the World Children’s Day.
It has honoured 50 media professionals during the Meena Media Awards 2018.
The awards were set up to encourage better reporting of child rights and to increase attention on issues affecting children across the media landscape of Bangladesh.
The winners were drawn from 85 nominees in 14 categories with the total number of entries rising to 850 this year from 700 last year.
The Meena Media Awards – now in their 14th year – are designed to celebrate excellence in creative media and journalism in print, electronic and online platforms.
The award ceremony hosted a colourful performance by popular music group Warfaze.
A friendly cricket match was also organized between national cricket superstars and a group of disadvantaged children on Saturday.
World Children’s Day is a global day of action for children, by children to raise awareness and funds for the millions of children that are unschooled, unprotected and uprooted.
As part of the celebrations in Bangladesh, UNICEF asked supporters to raise their voices in solidarity with the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children by helping ‘turn the world blue’ – by doing or wearing something blue at school, on the streets, on social media, in boardrooms and on sports fields.
UNICEF Bangladesh also organized a Blue Concert for children attended by several UNICEF Bangladesh Goodwill Ambassadors, actors, digital influencers and musicians, including Jon Kabir, Beat Baksho, Mahtim Shakib and Chitropot.
A number of collaborations with youth advocate Raba Khan will continue as part of World Children’s Day celebrations.
Through these activities alone, more than 6,000 children directly participated while nearly two million people were engaged online.
“I hope the vibrant media of Bangladesh will also join this global action for children through advancing children’s causes and child participation in the media,” Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Bangladesh Representative said, congratulating participants and award winners.
During the awards ceremony, Beigbeder and UNICEF Bangladesh Goodwill Ambassadors actress Arifa Pervin Zaman Moushumi and magician Jewel Aich presented crests, award money and certificates to the winners.
