My journey with UNICEF began when I was a senior in high school and I led a service project for the students in our school’s honor society. I was at a loss for ideas until my English teacher suggested that I look into a Water Walk in support of UNICEF. This seemed like the perfect opportunity that would allow honor students to play a larger role in planning, while simultaneously including the entire senior class in our fundraising efforts. To my surprise, the Water Walk ended up being far more successful than I could have imagined, as we ended up raising enough money to provide water pumps to two communities, with extra funds for water filters.
Through the Northeastern UNICEF club, I have been able to learn so much about children around the world and have had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with accomplished UNICEF employees, clubs across the nation and like-minded peers.
Before this experience, I did not know much about UNICEF, but left high school with a much better understanding of the world and of my privileges. In September 2019, I began my freshman year at Northeastern University, ready to learn more and play a larger role in UNICEF. I immediately joined the UNICEF club; the following semester, I joined the executive board. Today, as a third year, I am proud to say I am club president. Through the Northeastern UNICEF club, I have been able to learn so much about children around the world and have had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with accomplished UNICEF employees, clubs across the nation and like-minded peers.
This past November, I, along with a fellow member of my club’s e-board, had the opportunity to volunteer at UNICEF’s 75th anniversary event right here in Boston at the Institute of Contemporary Art. UNICEF @75 was also held in nine other cities, along with a virtual option. I remember looking forward to a night of celebration and being able to witness companies, families and individuals gather to support a great cause.
My role as a volunteer involved checking in guests and guiding them through the donation process. For the guests, the night was comprised of a reception, a film premiere of “If You Have” by Academy Award-winning director Ben Proudfoot, a giving moment and finally, an after party. It was an amazing sight to see guests enter the event with such genuine excitement, especially since this was also UNICEF’s first in-person event since the start of the pandemic.
For me, the most impactful part of the night was during the auction. Each audience member held an electric candle and would lift up their flame when bidding. The auction included items ranging from an emergency truck to lifesaving nutrition support, each prefaced with a moving explanation of their powerful effect on children’s lives. It was an inspiring sight to see the vast number of flames raised, lighting up the room in support of UNICEF’s mission. At the end of the night, we learned that the Boston event raised over $1 million. On top of that, an anonymous donor matched the donation, for a total of more than $2 million. It was truly an unforgettable night.
This past November, I, along with a fellow member of my club’s e-board, had the opportunity to volunteer at UNICEF’s 75th anniversary event right here in Boston at the Institute of Contemporary Art… It was truly an unforgettable night.
For days after the event, I wondered how I would be able to make as great of an impact as the donors did that night. I was continuously brainstorming how my club could match the excitement and influence of that event. Over winter break, I realized we couldn’t. As a student leader of a club at my university, I knew that we probably would not be able to do something that would raise over $2 million and that is okay.
However, I was still determined to make my individual impact with UNICEF, so I made the decision to continue educating others, providing advocacy opportunities and making sure that my fellow students could get involved with UNICEF’s mission. This once again reminded me that whether you are a college student broadening your worldview or a donor looking to give back, your involvement is equally important and impactful on UNICEF’s mission to help every child thrive across the world.
Learn more about starting a UNICEF club at your school or university.
Top photo: Northeastern University UNICEF Club President Amy Xiao, far right, and fellow volunteers gather at the registration desk to welcome guests to UNICEF ‘s 75th anniversary gala at Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art on Nov. 30th, 2021. © Michael Blanchard Photography