Since its official recognition as a Recognized Student Organization at the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year, Emporia State’s United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) chapter has taken strides to establish itself as a prominent group on campus. As they celebrate their first year serving the UNICEF mission with a gala, President Kesiena Lesso and Treasurer Jasmin Rubio Guzman reflect.
UNICEF is an international organization affiliated with the United Nations aimed at advocating and fundraising for children across the globe who are in need. Lesso explained that she decided to bring UNICEF’s work to ESU because she had witnessed the good they had done in her own country.
“I grew up in Nigeria, and I have seen UNICEF work in my country before, how they help kids. So when I got to the United States … I’ve been keeping up with, like, all of UNICEF USA’s, like, programs and events,” she said. “So I got in contact with the director for this region … And fall semester came, and I was like, ‘You know what? I’m just gonna try this and see how it goes.’ And it’s just been amazing ever since.”
ESU’s chapter held many events during their first year to support their cause, beginning with a fundraising opportunity.
“We tabled at the (pedestrian) mall here in the union. We handed out donation boxes so that people could go out into the community and fundraise for UNICEF, and we ended up making $130 and it all went straight towards UNICEF USA to help support children,” said Rubio Guzman.
Lesso detailed member travel opportunities and some of the other events UNICEF hosted this year, including a World Children’s Day photo booth to spread awareness of UNICEF and a “Speak Up” challenge where ESU students were invited to speak on a topic they are passionate about in front of a crowd.
Lesso said that she is proud of the engagement that UNICEF has seen in its first few events meetings. The organization went from “close to about 13 people” at its first meeting to anywhere between 20 and 30 currently.
“I was really shocked when we started the spring semester and we had like, over 20 people show up to the meeting. And I was like, wow, it just shows like, people are actually interested in, like, what this organization is and how it’s beneficial, not only to their own personal lives, but also in their careers,” said Lesso.
On Monday, May 4, UNICEF hosted a gala to celebrate their first-year accomplishments. According to Lesso, the purpose of the gala was to recognize their members, their successful year and to do a bit of fundraising. They hosted guest speakers, prize giveaways and a pasta bar.
“It’s a really fulfilling club to be a part of. It’s the only club that, like, I feel that way about … it just feels so good to know that the work that I put into this club all goes towards a good cause that supports children that are in unfortunate situations,” Rubio Guzman said.
Although they have just celebrated the end of their first year, Lesso and Rubio Guzman are already looking forward to continuing UNICEF’s work in the future. Both agreed that volunteering and community involvement are two of their biggest focuses.
“For next year, I would like to focus more on volunteering,” said Rubio Guzman. “I think that’s something that people, including me, would have expected of a club like UNICEF, where it’s all about helping other people. So I would like to have more volunteering events and getting our members out there in the community, speaking about the community, just connecting with Emporia and making ourselves known outside of ESU.”
Lesso added, “I feel like we’ve really established ourselves already at ESU … there are people in the community that are looking for ways to meet (and) to get involved with UNICEF.”
