During the summer months, local UNAs and a number of schools engaged with the 'It's our UN' project, exploring the connections that their own local communities had to the global work and values of the United Nations. This project formed part of our celebrations of the UN's 70th anniversary and sought to illustrate the many ways in which ordinary people in ordinary UK communities are at the root and heart of what can sometimes seem a distant and disconnected organisation.
The project is now at its conclusion and we heard some amazing stories and links, that clearly demonstrate ways in which "We the peoples" are at the heart of the UN and the many ways in which its aims, goals and values might be expressed around the world.
Whether by giving shelter to those displaced by disaster and war; supplying equipment and manpower or raising money and awareness; perhaps as part of employment or even through sacrifice and personal hardship; whether in the front line or behind the scenes, this project has shown how UK communities have been and remain at the heart of building and sustaining a stronger and more effective UN.
Our report on the project highlights, for example, how Derby built Rolls Royce engines to power craft delivering workers and materials to some of the worlds most troubled hotspots; how Devon firefighters responded to a UN call for help; how the children of Coventry provided a medically equipped Land Rover for children in Calcutta or how the UK foreign secretary at the UN's formation was MP for Wandsworth. You can read other fascinating connections between UK communities and the UN by clicking here.
Celebrations didn't just end with the many exciting discoveries that were made. Many of the communities and groups involved went on to tell their stories in local newspapers, on local radio stations and through more formal presentations to their local mayor. Wandsworth, for example had their links aired on local radio during prime time listening, a local newspaper in Derby ran a feature article and Exeter Cathedral ran a video montage.
News of presentations is still coming in, so be sure to visit the report regularly to keep up to date.
