In the last episode for this year, we're joined by Anya Barrett, who will be running for the third year in a row for Team UNICEF in the New York City Marathon this November. She's raised more than $30,000 to date in support of UNICEF's lifesaving work! She talks to us about her family's personal connection to the organization, her training regimen, and how listeners can effectively fundraise. Sign up for Team UNICEF for future events (including the 2020 Boston Marathon): http://www.unicefusa.org/teamunicef Learn how you can get active with UNICEF in your community: www.unicefusa.org/unite SUBSCRIBE iTunes: apple.co/2XIvugy Google Play: bit.ly/2W0lleE Spotify: spoti.fi/2ISIxru Stitcher: bit.ly/2K4ODWr

Too often, shame, stigma and misinformation around periods may discourage girls from attending school and reaching their full potential. This week's guest, PERIOD founder Nadya Okamoto, is fighting for a world where all menstruators are able to manage their periods with dignity and confidence. Ahead of Day of the Girl, she talks to us about her personal journey and how all of us can speak out on this issue. Learn more about PERIOD's work: https://www.period.org/ And follow them on social for updates on National Period Day, October 19: https://twitter.com/periodmovement Learn how you can get active with UNICEF in your community: www.unicefusa.org/unite SUBSCRIBE iTunes: apple.co/2XIvugy Google Play: bit.ly/2W0lleE Spotify: spoti.fi/2ISIxru Stitcher: bit.ly/2K4ODWr

Many communities in Côte d'Ivoire have an excess of plastic waste and a deficit of classroom space. So UNICEF partnered with Conceptos Plásticos to find an innovative, cost-effective solution to address both issues: school buildings made from recycled plastic bricks. On this week's episode, co-founders Oscar Méndez and Isabel Cristina Gamez join us to talk about the importance of empowering local women, how they'll scale up the initiative, and showcasing their work at the UNGA. Check out a finished classroom: https://bit.ly/2Du7TZN Learn how you can get active with UNICEF in your community: www.unicefusa.org/unite SUBSCRIBE iTunes: apple.co/2XIvugy Google Play: bit.ly/2W0lleE Spotify: spoti.fi/2ISIxru Stitcher: bit.ly/2K4ODWr

Today’s children are least responsible for climate change, but they, and their children, will live with its consequences. That's the reality we're confronting this week, both at the UN Climate Summit and student-led climate strikes throughout the country. On this week's episode, Gautam Narasimhan, UNICEF's Senior Advisor on Climate, Energy and Environment, joins us to talk about how UNICEF is working to build a more sustainable, safer world for children, and how communities can take climate action now. Let your Members of Congress know that children must be protected from the effects of climate change: https://actnow.io/Climate Learn how you can get active with UNICEF in your community: www.unicefusa.org/unite SUBSCRIBE iTunes: apple.co/2XIvugy Google Play: bit.ly/2W0lleE Spotify: spoti.fi/2ISIxru Stitcher: bit.ly/2K4ODWr

One of the poorest country in the world, Malawi sees far too many of its girls drop out due to the high cost of education, early pregnancy and child marriage — but that's beginning to change. This week, Kimanzi Muthengi, UNICEF Malawi's Chief of Education and Adolescents, joins us to talk about his own teaching journey, the K.I.N.D. Fund's success and how UNICEF is working to keep girls in school. Learn how you can support the K.I.N.D. Fund: bit.ly/2AahF0S Follow UNICEF Malawi on Twitter: twitter.com/malawiunicef Learn how you can get active with UNICEF in your community: www.unicefusa.org/unite SUBSCRIBE iTunes: apple.co/2XIvugy Google Play: bit.ly/2W0lleE Spotify: spoti.fi/2ISIxru Stitcher: bit.ly/2K4ODWr

Malnutrition affects every country in the world, with both undernutrition and obesity posing major risks to our children. That's where NBA All-Star player and UNICEF Ambassador Pau Gasol comes in. He was recently appointed as Global Champion for Nutrition and Zero Childhood Obesity, and he joins us this week to talk about why he's excited to begin this new role. Urge your Members of Congress to invest in nutrition for moms and children around the world: https://actnow.io/Nutrition Learn how you can get active with UNICEF in your community: www.unicefusa.org/unite SUBSCRIBE iTunes: apple.co/2XIvugy Google Play: bit.ly/2W0lleE Spotify: spoti.fi/2ISIxru Stitcher: bit.ly/2K4ODWr

Every child, regardless of borders, needs to be safe and protected — but for migrant children seeking asylum in the U.S., a new policy is now putting their lives at risk. The Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP), commonly referred to as “Remain in Mexico,” forces asylum-seeking families and even children to return to dangerous areas in Mexico to await their asylum court dates. This week, our own Eitan Peled talks with Kate Clark, Senior Director of Jewish Family Service of San Diego's Immigration Services, to talk about her work protecting children's rights, and why we all must urge lawmakers to rescind MPP. Tell the U.S. Government to #EndMPP now: https://actnow.io/EndMPP Learn how you can get active with UNICEF in your community: www.unicefusa.org/unite SUBSCRIBE iTunes: apple.co/2XIvugy Google Play: bit.ly/2W0lleE Spotify: spoti.fi/2ISIxru Stitcher: bit.ly/2K4ODWr

While UNICEF USA's programmatic focus is largely international, the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in Houston was so severe that we decided to step in. We teamed up with partners like Mental Health America of Greater Houston, which helped parents and teachers address the trauma many children had experienced. Two years later, UNICEF USA and MHA are bringing this same approach to Bay County, Florida, with Natalie Fikac, Director of the Center for School Behavioral Health, leading the charge. We talk with her about addressing children's immediate needs after Harvey, and how those learnings will be applied in Bay County. Note that Janet Potzmentier, former Director of the Center for School Behavioral Health led the response in Houston while Natalie, the current Director, will be leading the response in Bay County. Learn how you can get active with UNICEF in your community: www.unicefusa.org/unite SUBSCRIBE iTunes: apple.co/2XIvugy Google Play: bit.ly/2W0lleE Spotify: spoti.fi/2ISIxru Stitcher: bit.ly/2K4ODWr

Today, 1.5 million children are growing up in residential institutions in India. Often poorly regulated, these facilities can leave children extremely vulnerable to exploitation and neglect. That's where Project Lion comes in. Founded by our guest, Purvi Padia, this program supports Indian children who’ve been left without family so that they can grow up in loving, protective environments. Ahead of New York City's India Day Parade, Purvi joins us to talk about the successes so far, and where Project Lion can go from here. Support Project Lion: https://bit.ly/2voSrss Help spread the word on social: www.unicefusa.org/share Learn how you can get active with UNICEF in your community: www.unicefusa.org/unite SUBSCRIBE iTunes: apple.co/2XIvugy Google Play: bit.ly/2W0lleE Spotify: spoti.fi/2ISIxru Stitcher: bit.ly/2K4ODWr