consider problems of
hunger, personal rights
U.N. employee describes
organization’s mission
Eisenhower students
consider problems of
hunger, personal rights
BY LINDA DeNICOLA
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Sixth grade students at the Eisenhower Middle School, Burlington Road, got a lesson on the mission of the United Nations from someone who sees that world body from the inside.
Gihan Abouleinein, who works for the U.N. as a finance officer in the treasury department, was a guest speaker recently Kerry Tormey’s and Stacy Schlomann’s sixth grade social studies classes.
Abouleinein’s daughter Tamer was among the 280 children who listened attentively for 45 minutes as Abouleinein discussed the U.N., its origin, purpose and what it is doing to fight hunger and poverty in the world.
Abouleinein has two other children, Waleed, 15, a freshman at Freehold Borough High School, and Camilia, a first-grader at the Applegate School. The family has lived in Freehold Township for five years after previously residing in Manalapan.
A Brooklyn, N.Y., native, Abouleinein has worked for the U.N. for three years.
"There are about 50,000 people employed by the U.N. worldwide," she said, adding, "The oil-for-food program is one of the programs under my management."
She explained that the oil-for-food program was set up to provide humanitarian relief to the people of Iraq in exchange for oil their country produces.
"I manage the money and help them generate more money through interest," she said.
Abouleinein noted that there have been allegations of fraud in the oil-for-food program.
"Saddam (Hussein) didn’t want this program, but the U.N. set it up to alleviate the pain and suffering of Iraqis. Saddam insisted that he pick providers who were taking kickbacks for him. It is being investigated."
Abouleinein provided several examples to illustrate how difficult life is for children in poor countries. One example was of a 15-year-old who had no education and no job and joined a military group. He spent five years in the bush killing people and being shot at, she said.
"He was hurt and taken to the hospital where, for the first time, he felt part of a group. He had killed many enemies. He prayed for God to forgive him," she said.
Abouleinein gave another example of a 10-year-old professional scavenger who sells waste paper and plastic bags on city streets.
"They are called waste heap providers. They work in garbage dumps. He’s in a very lucrative business. He works each day for a meal. Some work 18 hours a day for 40 cents," she told the children.
She explained that in addition to pro-
viding humanitarian aid, the U.N. works to regain an individual’s rights. She gave an example of a 14-year-old girl who had been married at the age of 11 and later deserted by her husband. When the girl’s father died she had no rights to her father’s property and she already had a child to raise.
Abouleinein told the students about the organization of the U.N. and about what it is doing to fight poverty by providing food, shelter and emergency medical assistance to millions of refugees and displaced people.
One student asked where the food comes from.
Abouleinein said member nations raise money and donate food.
She also talked about the ramifications of hunger.
"You guys are very lucky not to have to deal with hunger. The World Food Program tries to alleviate hunger in the world. They have implemented a program whereby everybody that goes to school gets fed. If you don’t have food how can you think about anything?" she said.
She explained that these programs are mostly for girls who in many countries do not go to school and are married by the age of 11 and begin having children.
"Statistics show that between the ages of 11 and 18 they have as many as seven kids. Girls that do get an education have children later," she said, adding that there are about 300 million poor children who do not have food.
She showed slides of skinny children in rags eating and drinking meager meals.
"Ask yourselves what you can do to make things better in the world," Abouleinein said.
The students said they could donate food or volunteer.
"But what can you do amongst yourselves?" she asked. "Peace in the world begins with you. Look around you and focus on the similarities, not the differences. Start with your friends and then work your way up."
She quoted Eleanor Roosevelt, who said, "I would rather light a candle than curse the darkness."
Abouleinein received her bachelor’s degree from New York University, her master’s degree from Wagner College, Staten Island, N.Y., and her doctorate from the University of Phoenix in Arizona. She said she loves her job because she comes into contact with people from all over the world.
She explained that the U.N. began in 1945 and has 189 member states. Abouleinein said the effectiveness of the U.N. depends on the member nations and their willingness to carry out their own goals, but through her message the youngsters also learned that they can be effective with small goals, one person relating to another.