Clubs play a big role in building the school community, and NVOT takes pride in encouraging students and staff to follow their passions outside of the classroom. The 50+ clubs offered by the school fosters an environment where students can express themselves however they please while connecting with peers who share similar passions. This year, The Lance will be doing monthly coverage of clubs at NVOT that go unnoticed compared to other mainstream clubs.
For the month of May, The Lance will be highlighting NVOT’s newest organization – UNICEF Club. This group, advised by history teacher Jennifer Fernandez, rose to popularity with over 150 students across all grade levels registering at this year’s club fair. The club’s purpose is to raise awareness and provide aid for children in need around the world through fundraisers and events.
Fernandez said, “I have advised many clubs throughout my career, and this is the first year I’ve felt that I’m working with a genuinely sincere group of students that want to help others.” The officers “show up and show out, bringing enthusiasm to every meeting and getting support for our club through the school community. There is not a lazy one in the bunch.”
NVOT’s UNICEF Club contributes to UNICEF programs that provide essential resources such as clean water, nutrition, education, and emergency aid to communities in need around the world. Every event and fundraiser helps make a difference. Their core pillars (Educate, Advocate, Fundraise, Build) encompass the club’s mission to activate NVOT students to become service leaders and advocates.
Yeeun Park, the UNICEF Club’s founder and Co-President said,“My goal was never just to add another organization to the list of school activities. It was to really build something meaningful, a space where students could move beyond awareness and actually take action on issues affecting children around the world.”
From college seminars to rock painting, the UNICEF Club has a wide range of activities for club members to participate in. One of the biggest events that UNICEF Club hosted was the Center for Food Action charity drive where they organized Give Thanks Gift Bags that contained high protein, nutritious, and easy to prepare food items. This event helped families facing hardships throughout Bergen and Passaic counties during the holiday season.
Another event UNICEF Club hosted was the Roses are Red Fundraiser, where club members sold roses to students and faculty during the week of Valentine’s Day.
UNICEF Club Secretary Hayden Lee said, “It was wonderful to see people buying a rose for their friend, family member, partner, or themselves, because seeing how something as simple as a rose could make a person smile or make their day was rather heartwarming.”
Fernandez said NVOT students should be involved in this club because “UNICEF is truly about fostering and nurturing a sense of empathy for others and developing a passion to have a positive impact on our world.” UNICEF Club exposes students to many different global issues, and “requires an individual to think outside of themselves and to be committed to making a positive change outside [NVOT’s] comfortable bubble”. This club “teaches students to truly become involved as advocates on issues such as education access, children’s rights, food insecurity, and climate change.”
Lee said, “I love watching underclassmen get involved in extracurriculars and become a part of the school community because it reminds me of when I was a freshman. It is fulfilling to be able to contribute something to these students’ experience during their time here.”
The officers’ dedication and genuine passion for this club is clearly displayed through Fernandez’s high praise of them, as she said “I have never once had to chase [the officers] down. Actually when I think about it, they often chase me down to get things done. They are really fantastic.”
Park said, “In a world that can often feel divided or disconnected, UNICEF Club reminds students that kindness, service, and compassion still matter.”