Greetings: It’s UNICEF time

by Bernard KENNEDY

As 2005 draws towards a close, New Year or Christmas gifts and parties spring to mind. For many, it will be a time of routine celebration. How many efficient, empty greetings will we send, mass-produced on electronic keyboards, with or without click-and-send images (“Please print yourself”)? But for those who really care about their loved ones far away – and about the world’s children – the time has come for pen-and ink and the UNICEF greetings card catalogue.

As ever, the UN Children’s Fund is offering another heart-warming selection box brimming with goodies to suit everybody’s taste. Cool wintry blues and whites or blazing reds and greens? Classic snow-scenes, trees and flowers or bouncing, modern, multi-coloured shapes? Designed by artists the world over, these cards have global appeal. They can be sent from anywhere to anywhere for any reason or none.

Beyond cards

The cards are sophisticated, naïve, shiny, embossed, cut-out or rectangular – but all of a pleasing quality and with envelopes to match. Special cards are also available for birthdays. Beyond cards, there are calendars, diaries, address books, labels and decorations, candles of all shapes and sizes, mugs, T-shirts, toys, bags and authentic hand-made accessories from Peru and Bangladesh. Hundreds of ways, in short, to refresh family ties, reignite friendships or reward business partners.

In Turkey, all these items are marketed by the UNICEF Turkey National Committee, a private charity which aims to raise public awareness of the needs of the children of Turkey and the world, and to assist and support the work of UNICEF in the areas of child health, education and protection and children’s rights. The Committee cooperates with public and private sector organisations, NGOs, professional bodies and voluntary groups. Other fund-raising activities include gala evenings, exhibitions, concerts and donation campaigns. In 2004, UNICEF raised some €412m from individuals, companies and organisations, which was spent mainly on early child development, vaccinations and other health services, girls’ education, child protection and the fight against AIDS.

How to order

The products described here can be ordered for delivery by telephone, fax or email, and payment can be made by bank account or credit card. For more details or to order a catalogue, see www.unicefturk.org  Or select your UNICEF cards and gifts at more than 70 bookstores, stationers, supermarkets and other outlets in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir. UNICEF greetings may be traditional but are never routine.

(DIPLOMAT  -  November 2005  -  Ankara)