On December 24th, 2005 I was finally introduced to a girl named Shirley Wen by UNICEF’s communication officer, Charles Rycroft. His face burst into the warmest smile, as he was announcing “This is my project”.
I can sense his pride and achievement, which he searched in his heart by serving others. I always know that working as a journalist I could be exposed to all kinds of amazing stories. But the story between Shirley and Charles is one of those that I never expected before.
A year ago, one day, a man was heading back home from work. Suddenly, a girl came up to him. The man knew this trick very well: wondering along Sanlitun Street in Beijing, you are exposed to a bunch of prostitutes. Clearly enough, the man had no intention of having a conversation with a “whore”, but this girl assumed an aura of a know-nothing kid. She looked like 20 years or so. An overly thick make-up can’t veil her naive face. Her brimming eyes seemingly mumbling some untold stories. The man can’t help slowing down as he was wondering what kind of stories must have been behind this innocent face. “It is my first day of doing this,” she was sobbing, “It is because my mom was seriously ill and the treatment expense were crazy high so that I can’t afford it. This is my last resort.” He kept wondering if she was telling the truth or is it just some kind of prank. “I know I am not good enough for this kind of business. But could you please help me?” she continued.
“Call your mother. Let’s check it!” The man realized that it was the high time that he should do something to help the girl, because that’s the way he is wired, because that’s what his career asked him to; because he is the communication officer of UNICEF(United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund). And this year, his obligation is to fight for women and children’s rights. After checking every detail, he learned the girl was telling the truth and he decided to help her and her family out. From that day on, he sponsored the girl privately for further education at a language training school. That way, she became his “project”.
But under his request, none of this was released in any of the CNN news, “I just wanted to do this personally. It is not about my position and my career. I am just eager to do something kind to help others. If you want to meet her personally, I will let you. But if you want to do a news story, I am not going to make my fame and the reputation of UNICEF explore in this way.”
Literally, I am not stuck. Rather, that is how I see United Nations and any of its branches—
These are the United Nations: A united people with a united purpose. And it is all about freedom and love.
After fifty years of royal and humble work, The United Nations has shown us its being a formidable foe to those who seek to impose upon the world the yoke of tyranny. And it will be unceasing in the search for peace in the long run. Terrorists’ bullets have thrust upon the United Nations the awesome burden of being an organization that is fighting for freedom, peace and democracy. The United Nations cannot bear this burden alone. All of its staff and related branches will have the honor of sharing the burden.




