By Pip Bennett

UNICEF NZ has recently launched a new campaign called ‘Banging the Drum’, focusing on the effects of the global recession on Pacific nations. For the past two months I have been interning at the UNICEF NZ office in Wellington. My role involves working with the Advocacy Manager - International, getting a little bit of office experience as well as helping them out with campaign needs. At the moment we are working busily on this new campaign.

Economic crisis in the Majority world

The global economic crisis (often just referred to as the G.E.C) has had a major impact on the majority of countries in the world. The media has been swamped with reports of unemployment and investments-gone-bad from the U.K, the U.S, and more recently, Greece. But what about our Pacific neighbours?

Research on the issue has projected that around 50,000 more people could be living below the poverty line by the end of 2010. This obviously will have a huge impact on the lives of children and young people. Many of the Pacific nations rely on a cash economy, where cash is required to purchase goods or services. Increases in oil and food prices have left families with little disposable income to cover school fees, healthcare and in some cases, appropriate levels of food for their children.

Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific

© UNICEF/NYHQ2006-2510/Pirozzi.

Why is this important? Historically New Zealand has had a close relationship with the Pacific region. In recent decades we have provided significant amounts of aid money to the region, as well as other services such as military support and policing.  Another important reason is that Auckland is the city with the largest population of Pacific Islanders in the world. So our Pacific neighbours are more than just that. They are brothers and sisters, and these countries are often still called home by many of our citizens.

In New Zealand, the recession has arguably not had a huge impact on young people. Although job availability and family incomes have decreased, social assistance is largely available to cover expenses that families cannot cover themselves. In the Pacific, only 20% of the population have access to social welfare . Imagine not having a choice of whether to go to school or not. Imagine having to work to support your family, even if you are at primary school.

Campaign with a purpose

At school in Vanuatu ©UNICEF/NYHQ2006-2512/Pirozzi

The campaign is focussed on raising awareness in New Zealand of the situation in the Pacific. Children need to be put first in social policy to make sure that they are protected from negative and unstable situations. It is important for people to talk about ways to support social development in times of economic crisis. Social investment has a long term benefit, but sometimes it is hard to remember that, especially in the modern fast-paced world where we want to see benefits immediately.

We are promoting the campaign at a number of festivals. We were at the Newtown Fair with a Cook Island drumming group called Atiu Mapu, and we are also having a stall and a drummer at the Pasifika Festival in Auckland on 13 March 2010.  We want young people to get involved – on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube – to support other youth in the Pacific. You could have a debate, presentation, performance, or writing competition in your school or community group. Come bang the drum for children in the Pacific!

TAKE ACTION

Check out ‘Banging the Drum’ on Facebook
Or visit the UNICEF NZ Banging the Drum website
For information and personal stories go to:

the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in the Pacific Conference website