The Last Word and UNICEF partner for Kids In Need of Desks (K.I.N.D.) initiative

MSNBC's "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell" and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF joined together over a year ago to provide desks for children in Malawi. Due to overcrowding, these children would otherwise have to sit on the floor. When launched, the fundraising drive planned to raise $2 million to produce 46,000 desks for 172 schools in their priority areas. The partnership was set to be a "promoter-program implementer" type relationship. "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell" uses its position as a media entity, with the ability to reach millions of people, to promote the drive and UNICEF carries out the program (including collects the donations). Now a little over a year later, the campaign has surpassed its goal and is still continuing. To learn more, visit the K.I.N.D. website for the Last Word and the UNICEF page.


The K.I.N.D. initiative is a great example of how media can be used in a positive way to make a difference. In this case, due to the partnership, both parties and the Americans that donate everyday participate in the process of providing desks, which leads to a chance at a better education, and ultimately a chance at a better future. The underlying effects of the program are the jobs that it provides to both people in the U.S. and in Malawi.