Young people deserve to grow and thrive in good times and bad, in poverty and prosperity, in war and peace. Yet children still suffer from hunger, poverty, and maltreatment, even in a country as rich as the United States. This paper provides a historical background of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the kinds and nature of the services it provides, and how individuals can help UNICEF to provide a better environment for children. Recommendations include providing access to quality education, helping children to gain language and cultural training, encouraging them to develop self esteem and important life skills such as critical thinking and assertiveness, and teaching children to understand global problems such as pollution and destruction of the rain forest. People need to see every child as their own child, so that all people can learn to live productively in a world of great diversity. (MOK)