Our Correspondent / New Delhi
Several monuments across India turned blue today Nov 20 – the World Children’s Day. The #GoBlueForChildren global campaign aims to raise awareness about the rights and needs of children and the need of every child to be in school, safe from harm so they can fulfil their potential.
To support UNICEF’s global Go Blue campaign, office complexes and buildings, landmark monuments such as the Rashtrapati Bhawan, UN House and UNICEF Building along with buildings and corporate houses across the country including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Johnson & Johnson India Head office in Mumbai will be lit up in blue.
Legendary cricketer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sachin Tendulkar and FM stations are partnering with the UN body to amplify children’s voices on the World Children’s Day on Tuesday.
According to Emrana Sheikh, ENTERPRISE HR HEAD – INDIA & SOUTH ASIA AT JOHNSON & JOHNSON (J&J), “Our support to UNICEF is deep rooted. We are supporting the mission to expand and reach quality health care delivery for more than six years. Our partnership with them has resulted in numerous initiatives that have empowered communities at grass root levels.”
“J&J believes that good health is the foundation of thriving communities and forward progress. As a leader in the care and wellbeing of children and their families, we understand how critical it is for every mother and child to have access to quality healthcare at every step– from prenatal stages until way after the birth of the child,” she added.
According to Sheikh, “We are celebrating World Children’s Day in our office with colour and vigor! We are supporting UNICEF’s #GoBlue initiative by signing the #GoBlue petition, which asks world leaders to do more towards fulfilling child rights. Additionally, to celebrate every child’s right to education and schooling, every J&J employee is wearing blue and our office in Mumbai has been lit in the same colour for the occasion.”
To send out a message that reduction in malnutrition will go a long way in the holistic development of children; Bai Jerbai Wadia Children’s hospital will also go blue. Besides, AW Faber-Castell India Pvt. Ltd and Carnival Cinemas have joined UNICEF in the celebration.
Across the globe some of the iconic landmarks that will be lighting up blue for World Children’s Day, including: Sydney Opera House in Australia, Beijing National Aquatics Center, Water Cube in China, Mole Antonelliana in Italy, Petra in Jordan, Patuxay Monument in Laos, Eden Park in New Zealand, Abuja Gate in Nigeria, and more.
In the US, New York will also be going blue, when a young Goodwill Ambassador will flip the switch to light up the Empire State Building.
According to UNICEF all state offices and public spaces across state capitals and turn them blue by wearing blue clothes, raising blue flags and dropping blue skippy balls.