UNICEF to host speaker and screen film about Sudanese Civil War
The fundraiser will feature Peter Bul and “The Good Lie”
Activist Peter Bul will speak about his experiences as a Sudanese child refugee and his time in the U.S. | Hemmer
On Friday, Mar. 2, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Club will be hosting a fundraiser to raise money and awareness for the Sudanese Civil War and its lingering effects on the citizens of the country.
UNICEF will be airing “The Good Lie,” a movie featuring Reese Witherspoon and Ger Duany, which follows Sudanese orphans on their journey to a refugee camp in Kenya.
Over a decade later, the orphans settle in the U.S. and face the difficult task of finding jobs.
In addition to the movie, Peter Bul, a Sudanese war survivor, will tell his story. Much like the kids in the film, he also fled to a refugee camp in Kenya before settling in the States. Bul is a passionate advocate for his homeland, as well as the American Sudanese community.
The fundraiser was organized by sophomore Kathryn Hemmer, who began volunteering for UNICEF in third grade, where she participated in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF after reading about maternal and neonatal tetanus.
She also is a UNICEF Young Ambassador, and she continues to raise awareness about maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT). Hemmer had heard Bul speak a few years ago and felt that the film could accompany his story perfectly.”
“By attending the event, students and community members get to watch a phenomenal movie while supporting a great cause. They’ll walk away more knowledgeable about UNICEF’s work protecting children around the world,” said Hemmer.
“UNICEF supports giving malnourished children food and clean water and giving vaccines to remote areas where people die of diseases we have already cured. It also strives to give all children access to education, and prevent human trafficking and abusive government,” said senior treasurer and cofounder Jacob Levy.
The club organizes fundraisers like the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF as well as pizza sales. They meet Friday mornings before school to plan these fundraisers and to talk about the issues being tackled.
UNICEF Club has grown immensely at New Trier. Senior board member Alex Boudos said, “In my time, UNICEF Club has gone from a small group of friends getting together on Friday mornings to discuss the predicament of children around the world to a huge club of driven members.”
Levy estimates that there were over 80 kids at this year’s first meeting, compared to 12 kids in past years. “UNICEF has raised more money each consecutive year thanks to this growth. It’s really great that more people are coming, as it helps with fundraising and gets the word around the school,” said Levy.
“In the future, we plan to continue raising funds and awareness for all the amazing work UNICEF is doing,” said Boudos.
Tickets for tonight’s event are $15. Donations are accepted online and at the Gaffney Auditorium door.
