Children Against Mines Program

Children Against Mines Program (CHAMPS), an organization established by the Marshall Legacy Institute, is a program that seeks to aid in mine-related problems within the world. CHAMPS purchases mine sniffing canines to be sent directly to problem areas to aid the United Nations in removing these plastic explosives. The purchased dogs serve over a decade, each capable of working ten times faster than a fully equipped human worker. In one day, a human can search 40 square meters of land suspected of mine contamination, while a dog team may search up to 1,000 square meters in the same period of time. Landmines have been an increasing global problem. Every month over 2,000 people are killed or maimed by mine explosions. Half of these casualties are civilians who are injured or killed after hostilities in their country have ended. Among these civilian casualties, 40 percent are children. Usually children are injured or killed when traveling to school, playing, or working to helping contribute to their family income. It only takes a tiny amount of pressure to detonate a landmine. They are indiscriminate killers that cannot tell the difference between the boot of a soldier and the barefoot of a child.

Since 1999, at least 1,988 miles of mined infested land has been cleared in over 90 states and other areas. But the problem isn’t over. There are still 70 countries that remain contaminated by these hidden killers. Currently, over 800 dogs are “sniffing out” landmines and saving lives in 26 countries around the globe. Hundreds more of these dogs are needed to help make the world a safer place.

MUNSA XVI has chosen CHAMPS as an organization to be the humanitarian connection between participants of the conference and the global topics that are discussed in the committee rooms because of its direct tie to the United Nations. It is our duty as global citizens, to make this world a better and safer place and help others when they are in need.

CHAMPS Challenge

This year at MUNSA XVI, we will be introducing a new aspect to our humanitarian effort, the CHAMPS Challenge. This challenge is designed to help MUNSA raise the needed funds to purchase a landmine detection dog. We have already raised 2/3rds of the money, however, we are looking for more support from our participating delegations. We are asking each school attending MUNSA XVI to raise $300 by the conference. It is up to the school to decide how they will raise the money. We believe that with this final push, we will be able reach our goal of purchase a landmine detection dog by MUNSA XVI. The traditional humanitarian award will be eliminated this year, as we feel it has become more of a competition than an effort to collaborate as an entire conference for the humanitarian effort. However, each school that participates in the CHAMPS Challenge will be recognized at closing ceremonies.

*All money from the CHAMPS Challenge will be due on the first of November. As a reminder all checks need to be sent to The Marshall Legacy Institute (2425 Wilson Blvd, Suite 240 Arlington, Virginia 22201). Please make checks out to The Marshall Legacy Institute with MUNSA written in the comment line. Do not make checks to MUNSA or the International School of the Americas.

Reference

For further information about the Marshall Legacy Institute and CHAMPS please visit:

www.marshall-legacy.org

www.champskids.org/

www.tinyurl.com/munsachamps