Page 16 - 維多利亞教育機構55周年紀念特刊

Ms Judy Chen, JP

陳晴女士，JP

Chairman, Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF
聯合國兒童基金香港委員會主席

th
I’m delighted to extend my heartfelt congratulations on the 55 anniversary of Victoria Educational Organisation (VEO).
In fall of last year, Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) joined hands with VEO to initiate a partnership programme with the theme
of “Cherish Water”, marking VEO the first educational institution in Hong Kong to include the programme in its curriculum and educate students
about global children’s need for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, also known as WASH. With the professional guidance from VEO teachers, the
creative artworks and models designed by your students were truly amazing. It fully demonstrates VEO’s commitment and contribution to early
childhood education.

UNICEF’s work on early childhood development recognises the importance of this essential building block for every growing child. Sustainable
WASH services within households, communities and schools are fundamental basics underpinning almost every aspect of early childhood
development. It is therefore essential that WASH services are considered a key component of early childhood programmes in order to support
the development of a happy, healthy child and mother. However, 1.4 billion people in the world, including 450 million children, still live in areas
of high or extremely high water vulnerability. In response to this crisis, UNICEF is working with governments and partners globally to roll out
programmes to achieve water security.

This year also marks the 35 anniversary of UNICEF HK, with WASH as a primary theme. I’d like to express my sincere appreciation for the
th
support of VEO. Together, we can reimagine a better future for every child.

值此維多利亞教育機構(VEO)慶祝55週年之際，本人很高興獻上衷心的祝賀。

去年秋天，聯合國兒童基金香港委員會(UNICEF HK)與VEO聯手發起了以「珍惜水源」為主題的合作，這標誌著VEO成
為香港首個將「珍惜水源」主題納入其教材的教育機構，並教育學生關於全球兒童對食水、個人和環境衛生(WASH)的需
求。在VEO老師的專業指導下，學生設計的創意藝術作品令人讚歎，充分體現了VEO對幼兒教育的承諾和貢獻。

聯合國兒童基金會(UNICEF)致力於幼兒發展工作，因其是每個孩子成長中必不可少的部分。而在家庭、社區和學校中推
行可持續的WASH服務，是關乎幼兒發展各個方面的關鍵基礎。因此，WASH應被視為幼兒發展計劃的重要組成部分，以
支持快樂、健康的孩子和母親的成長。但是，世界上仍有14億人，其中包括4.5億名兒童，生活在嚴重缺水或極度缺水的
地區。為應對這一危機，UNICEF正在與全球各國政府和合作夥伴努力，推出旨在實現水安全的計劃。

今年是聯合國兒童基金香港委員會成立35週年，WASH亦是重要主題。我在此衷心感謝VEO的支持。讓我們一齊攜手，為
每個孩子創建更美好的未來。

6