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Chaping Town, 28 Sept - New Zealand balloon pilot Andrew Parker brought his coloured hot air balloon to the UNICEF supported Child Friendly Space in Chaping Town, An County, a mountainous area in the northwest of China's Sichuan Province where a catastrophic earthquake struck in 2008, leaving many schools damaged or reduced to rubble.  

©UNICEF/China/2014/Wu Kaixiang  Around four hundred people gathered in the main square of Chaping town, a small community in the mountainous area of An county in North West Sichuan province to witness Andrew Parker, a New Zealand balloon pilot inflate his balloon.  For the children, along with parents, who came from the local community, this was the first time to see a hot air balloon.

Andrew, who has already brought his UNICEF emblazoned balloon to Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines and Laos before coming to China, aims to bring happiness to the children he visits and raise awareness of the importance of education - a child's right as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a core mandate of UNICEF's global work. His Asia trip also brought attention to UNICEF's School for Asiainitiative that strives to empower the most vulnerable children in Asia with the opportunity for education. 

©UNICEF/China/2014/Wu Kaixiang  Andrew, who has already brought his UNICEF emblazoned balloon to Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines and Laos before coming to China, aims to bring happiness to the children he visits and raise awareness of the importance of education - a child's right as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a core mandate of UNICEF's global work.

“I dreamed of becoming a hot balloon pilot since I was 6 years old.”Andrew told the children gathered around his hot balloon, “I hope you will chase your dream, do what you are passionate about, and make your dreams come true.”The event took place in the community's main square to a crowd of over 400 people including children and their parents.

The “Flying High For Kids” project, created by Andrewand was launched in December of 2013, will visit about100 schools around the world over a span of four years. During each visit, Andrew collects postcards made by students to give to their peers in his next destination, promoting cultural exchange and facilitating communication among children from different countries. The funds he raised during his global journey will support UNICEF's work in reaching more than 57 million children who do not have access to a basic education. 

©UNICEF/China/2014/Wu Kaixiang  For the children, along with parents, who came from the local community, this was the first time to see a hot air balloon.The postcards they have made will go with Andrew and be received by their peers in Andrew's next destination,

Thrilled at the risen balloon, children ran to Andrew and gathered around him, shouting out questions like “Why did it rise?”“How come the balloon doesn't catch on fire?”“Is it safe to travel with the balloon?”Nodding and smiling, Andrew patiently listened and answered every question. The children also gave him the postcards they made in advance.

UNICEF's Child Friendly Spaces is a family and community-based approach to children's well being that includes health and hygiene, recreation, psychosocial support and education. In the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, UNICEF has worked with the government to set up over 40 Child Friendly Spaces in the earthquake-affected area to ensure children have access to basic service and a safe environment where they can learn and play.

About UNICEF in China:
UNICEF first assisted China between 1947 and 1951, providing emergency services, food and nutrition, health and hygiene training during and after the Civil War. In 1979 UNICEF officially commenced its cooperation with the Government of China to support child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is on the ground in over 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. 

For more information please visit:

http://www.unicef.cn

http://flyinghighforkids.com/

http://www.supportunicef.org/schoolsforasia

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For further information, please contact:

Shantha Bloemen, UNICEF China, +8610 85312610, sbloemen@unicef.org or Liu Li, UNICEF China, +8610 85312612, liliu@unicef.org