All children are born with the same rights. Regardless of race or ethnic group, the country they are born in, whether they are a boy or girl, rich or poor, living with disabilities or with HIV – all children must have full opportunity to become a productive member of society, and must have the right to speak up and be heard.
Real lives takes you into the lives of children and young people in India and the communities in which they live.
Learn about the challenges they face as well as their dreams and hopes to better protect their rights in a world stained with poverty, violence and AIDS.
Marking its First Year Without any Polio Cases, India Takes a Giant Leap Toward Wiping Out the Disease
NEW YORK, USA, 12 January 2012 – Once recognized as the epicenter of the polio epidemic, India is now on the verge of creating history by stopping the transmission of polio.
NEW YORK, USA, 12 January 2012 – Once recognized as the epicenter of the polio epidemic, India is now on the verge of creating history by stopping the transmission of polio.
Second round in measles vaccination campaign allows children to ‘catch-up’ in India
DABHIPUR, India, 1 November 2011- In November of 2010, the Government of India, supported by UNICEF and WHO, launched the measles ‘catch-up’ campaign with the aim of reaching 134 million children in 14 high risk Indian states.
DABHIPUR, India, 1 November 2011- In November of 2010, the Government of India, supported by UNICEF and WHO, launched the measles ‘catch-up’ campaign with the aim of reaching 134 million children in 14 high risk Indian states.
Women’s Group Bands Together to Clean-Up Slum Neighbourhoods
Munni Begum belongs to 16-member strong, volunteer woman’s empowerment group, which is helping to clean up her neighbourhood in Moradabad and spread the importance of hygiene to promote good health.
Munni Begum belongs to 16-member strong, volunteer woman’s empowerment group, which is helping to clean up her neighbourhood in Moradabad and spread the importance of hygiene to promote good health.
Students Show Clean Hands Prevent Disease
The handwashing campaign, part of a UNICEF programme called ‘School Saving Lives’, stresses the importance of using soap, not just water, to clean hands before eating or preparing food, after using toilet, changing a baby’s soiled pants and other tasks.
The handwashing campaign, part of a UNICEF programme called ‘School Saving Lives’, stresses the importance of using soap, not just water, to clean hands before eating or preparing food, after using toilet, changing a baby’s soiled pants and other tasks.
Youth Volunteers Alert Communities to Government Programmes
The alert programme, supported by UNICEF, recruits volunteers like Khumeshwar from villages around Chattisgarh. In a series of workshops, it trains them to help fellow villagers identify problems in their community.
The alert programme, supported by UNICEF, recruits volunteers like Khumeshwar from villages around Chattisgarh. In a series of workshops, it trains them to help fellow villagers identify problems in their community.
Girls Learn Life Skills in Deepshikha
Pratibha says her dramatic transformation is thanks to lessons learned in Deepshikha, or the ‘Light a Lamp’ programme, which aims to break down age-old negative attitudes toward women
Pratibha says her dramatic transformation is thanks to lessons learned in Deepshikha, or the ‘Light a Lamp’ programme, which aims to break down age-old negative attitudes toward women
Finding Innovative Ways of Putting Child Labourers Back in School
Anas is an ex-child laborer who has gone back to school with the help of a UNICEF project. The project aims to help an estimated 8,000 children working in metal ware industry.
Anas is an ex-child laborer who has gone back to school with the help of a UNICEF project. The project aims to help an estimated 8,000 children working in metal ware industry.
Joint Humanitarian Response to Orissa Floods
KENDRAPADA, 22 September, 2011 – Were it not for his strong swimming skills, Akuli Nayak would not have been alive today. He also would not have been able to save his family.
KENDRAPADA, 22 September, 2011 – Were it not for his strong swimming skills, Akuli Nayak would not have been alive today. He also would not have been able to save his family.
Residential Schools Allow Tribal Children an Education
DALEIGUDA, India, 8 September 2011 – Krupasindhuv Pangi knows the challenges that indigenous communities face. At the age of five, his family lost their land when it was taken from them to build a factory.
DALEIGUDA, India, 8 September 2011 – Krupasindhuv Pangi knows the challenges that indigenous communities face. At the age of five, his family lost their land when it was taken from them to build a factory.
Iron supplementation helping to end inter-generational cycle of anaemia in India
RANCHI, India, 26 August 2011 - Deepa Kumari, 14, began to feel dizzy and weak in class at the start of her menstrual cycle. Her father, who teaches math at a local private school, and mother decided to take her to a doctor when her symptoms.
RANCHI, India, 26 August 2011 - Deepa Kumari, 14, began to feel dizzy and weak in class at the start of her menstrual cycle. Her father, who teaches math at a local private school, and mother decided to take her to a doctor when her symptoms.
Nutrition Centre Gives Mothers and Children Hope for a Healthy Future
With UNICEF’s efforts and IKEA Foundation support, the Positive Deviance programme was extended to address the problem of severe malnutrition in the state.
With UNICEF’s efforts and IKEA Foundation support, the Positive Deviance programme was extended to address the problem of severe malnutrition in the state.
Supporting mothers to re-establish lactation
Shivpuri’s NRC provides support to Severe Acute Malnourished (SAM) children and helps mothers who experience difficulty in breastfeeding.
Shivpuri’s NRC provides support to Severe Acute Malnourished (SAM) children and helps mothers who experience difficulty in breastfeeding.
Community Mobilizes to Stop Child Labour
People’s Education and Development Organisation (PEDO), a local NGO working with UNICEF on a child protection programme to get children out of the fields and into schools, convinced Raju that going back to school would be best for his future.
People’s Education and Development Organisation (PEDO), a local NGO working with UNICEF on a child protection programme to get children out of the fields and into schools, convinced Raju that going back to school would be best for his future.
Fighting Malaria
Twenty-four -year-old Mamta with her twins at a local hospital in Orissa. Mamta is one of the hundreds of pregnant women in Keonjhar tribal district, who are fighting the often lonely battle of survival against the combined risks of pregnancy and malaria.
Twenty-four -year-old Mamta with her twins at a local hospital in Orissa. Mamta is one of the hundreds of pregnant women in Keonjhar tribal district, who are fighting the often lonely battle of survival against the combined risks of pregnancy and malaria.
On Stage Against Child Marriage
Anita joined the theatre group a year and a half ago after her parents planned for Anita’s marriage, which she refused.
Anita joined the theatre group a year and a half ago after her parents planned for Anita’s marriage, which she refused.
Young Reporters Give Voice to Hopes and Dreams
NEW YORK, USA, 12 January 2012 – Once recognized as the epicenter of the polio epidemic, India is now on the verge of creating history by stopping the transmission of polio.
NEW YORK, USA, 12 January 2012 – Once recognized as the epicenter of the polio epidemic, India is now on the verge of creating history by stopping the transmission of polio.
Religious Leaders Pitch in to Defeat Polio
Thanks to the efforts of religious leaders along with local administration and UNICEF, the entire state of Uttar Pradesh, including Pakbara has not reported a single polio case since 2010
Thanks to the efforts of religious leaders along with local administration and UNICEF, the entire state of Uttar Pradesh, including Pakbara has not reported a single polio case since 2010
Sports programme teaches children life skills in hard-to-reach areas
Started in the district of Chandrapur, the programme recruits a girl and boy from more than 500 villages, training them how sport can educate, inform and be used for development, and then sending them back to local schools and communities.
Started in the district of Chandrapur, the programme recruits a girl and boy from more than 500 villages, training them how sport can educate, inform and be used for development, and then sending them back to local schools and communities.
Pahariya Mothers Fight Malaria
To combat the malaria menace in Sunderpahari, an area majorly inhabited by tribal group Pahariyas, UNICEF started its intervention in 2008, targeting children and mothers in 16,000 households across 208 villages.
To combat the malaria menace in Sunderpahari, an area majorly inhabited by tribal group Pahariyas, UNICEF started its intervention in 2008, targeting children and mothers in 16,000 households across 208 villages.
Village Self-Help Groups Keeping Children Out of Labour
The women of Dungarpur like to quote an old Indian proverb that says many small ants can vanquish the large snake. Together they are making that proverb a reality by keeping their children out of labour and sending them to school.Dungarpur, India, 10 Apri
The women of Dungarpur like to quote an old Indian proverb that says many small ants can vanquish the large snake. Together they are making that proverb a reality by keeping their children out of labour and sending them to school.Dungarpur, India, 10 Apri
Kolkata Children Map Their Community With Google Earth
Thirteen-year-old Salim Sheikh and his friends are putting their sprawling Kolkata slum on the map – literally. For a year now, they’ve been gathering data about the people, small brick huts, crowded alleys, scattered temples, water pumps and other facts
Thirteen-year-old Salim Sheikh and his friends are putting their sprawling Kolkata slum on the map – literally. For a year now, they’ve been gathering data about the people, small brick huts, crowded alleys, scattered temples, water pumps and other facts
Nurse Midwives Bring New Life to Villages
Sanju, now 24,delivered about 200 babies last year,and is just one of dozens of young midwivesstriving to make a difference in Madhya Pradesh, where the infant and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in India.
Sanju, now 24,delivered about 200 babies last year,and is just one of dozens of young midwivesstriving to make a difference in Madhya Pradesh, where the infant and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in India.
Saving Lives of Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition
SHIVPURI, India, 7 January 2011 – Eleven-year-old Lakshmi used to wake up early each morning to prepare breakfast of for her family in village Rajapur in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Her parents worked as agricultural labourers and Lakshmi
SHIVPURI, India, 7 January 2011 – Eleven-year-old Lakshmi used to wake up early each morning to prepare breakfast of for her family in village Rajapur in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Her parents worked as agricultural labourers and Lakshmi
Emerging From Behind Closed Doors
The Deepshikha programme works to bring education and empowerment to these adolescent girls and, in the long-term, to ensure increased participation in decision-making that affects them.
The Deepshikha programme works to bring education and empowerment to these adolescent girls and, in the long-term, to ensure increased participation in decision-making that affects them.