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WHAT: Over the last thirty years, China has made enormous progress in raising living standards and child well-being. Nonetheless, about 20 million children remain in poverty in rural areas of China in 2013 measured by official poverty standard (equivalent to $1.8 per person per day) and 13 million, mainly rural children were unregistered and unable to fully access basic social services. 

To respond to the needs of these children, in 2010, the idea of building a grassroots social welfare system and creating a network of “Barefoot Social Workers” was initiated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, in partnership with UNICEF and the China Philanthropy Research Institute (CPRI).  By referencing China's iconic "Barefoot Doctors" concept, which is often called the inspiration for the primary health care and child survival "revolutions" that contributed to the historic global gains for child mortality reduction, the scheme is now expanding across China, province by province.

As part of a global series of “Ted” like talks initiated by UNICEF to showcase how innovation can be used to address inequity, China will host a dialogue with experts and practitioners to showcase the work of the “Barefoot Social Workers” and see how it can be replicated throughout the country to meet the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable children.

WHO:        

Dr. Wang Zhenyao, Dean, Beijing Normal University China Philanthropy Research Institute

Associate Professor Xiaoyan Huang, Department of Social Work and Social Policy, Zhou Enlai School of Government of Nankai University

Mr. Xu Jianzhong, Deputy Director-General of Department of Social Welfare and Charity Promotion, Ministry of Civil Affairs

Li, Zhengchuan, Child Welfare Director, Yunnan Province

Dan Toole, UNICEF Regional Director, East Asia and the Pacific

WHERE:            Beijing Normal University, No.19 Xinjiekouwai St. Haidian District, Beijing

WHEN:              10 am Wednesday 14 May 2014

                           Registration open from 9:30am.

WHY: As part of this year's celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF has declared 2014 as the Year of Innovation for Equity.  The theme is focused on showcasing innovation from around the world that has contributed to tackling and reducing inequities, which continue to deprive millions of children around the world of their basic rights. Through a series of public events with experts, innovators and thought-leaders held around the world, UNICEF will showcase the types of innovation, from financial to technological to programmatic, that can overcome inequality and drive change for children.

Visit our official website: www.unicef.cn

Follow us: Sina Weibo: http://weibo.com/unicefchina

                   Tecent Weibo: http://t.qq.com/unicef

                   We Chat Account: unicefchina

For further information, please contact: Shantha Bloemen, UNICEF China, +8610 85312610, sbloemen@unicef.org or Liu Li, UNICEF China, +8610 85312612, liliu@unicef.org

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