Monday UNICEF pic: Brazil

Our latest Annual Report (click here to download a PDF) just came out, so I thought I'd share this fantastic UNICEF photo that's featured on the cover:

© UNICEF/NYHQ2006-1355/Claudio Versiani
Meet Poliana da Silva, age 7, and her brother, Gabriel, age 4, who live in on the outskirts of the city of Olinda, in the north-eastern state of Pernambuco, Brazil.
Despite its commitment to ending poverty and hunger, the Brazilian government keeps a tight rein on social spending in order to pay its debts. There are some 62 million Brazilians under the age of 18, but only a fraction of the national budget is allocated to programs for children. That's where UNICEF comes in, supporting programs for health, nutrition, education, clean water, sanitation and child protection.
And that's something to smile about.