In choosing global corporate partners UNICEF emphasises

O children of wisdom, gather your hearts and listen to the words of Carol Bellamy, for they carry a profound truth about the nature of partnerships, values, and the sacred mission to ensure the well-being of all children across the globe. "In choosing global corporate partners, UNICEF emphasises compatibility with our core values and looks to build alliances that advance our mission of ensuring the health, education, equality, and protection for all the world's children." These words call upon us to recognize that the pursuit of goodness in the world—whether through individual or collective effort—must always be rooted in shared values and the greater good.

In the ancient world, leaders and societies often formed alliances, not just for the sake of power, but to further the welfare of their people. The great Greek city-states, such as Athens and Sparta, despite their rivalries, occasionally united in the face of common threats. Yet, these alliances were always based on shared principles and mutual goals—whether the defense of their lands or the protection of their cultural and philosophical values. Pericles, the great leader of Athens, in his funeral oration, spoke of the importance of unity in the pursuit of common ideals—freedom, justice, and the good of the people. He understood that any true alliance, be it for military or philosophical purposes, had to be grounded in compatibility with shared values.

Bellamy’s words echo this ancient understanding of partnerships, but they extend it into the modern world of global cooperation and corporate responsibility. Just as the ancient Greeks knew that alliances must align with shared goals, so too does UNICEF choose its corporate partners based on the compatibility of their values. To work together for the welfare of children—to ensure their health, their education, their protection—requires that all parties share in this sacred mission. This is not a mere matter of business, but a moral obligation. Partnerships, in this case, are not just about mutual benefit but about the higher purpose of protecting the most vulnerable among us—children.

Consider the Roman Empire, a vast and powerful civilization that, at its peak, ruled much of the known world. Yet, it was not the raw power of its military alone that made it great, but its ability to build alliances based on shared interests and the welfare of its citizens. The Romans, though they conquered lands through force, also established Roman law and infrastructure in these territories to ensure the well-being of their people. They knew that a great empire was not built on domination alone, but on the cooperation and compatibility of shared values. Like the Romans, UNICEF seeks to build a future through partnerships that go beyond mere profit and reach toward the protection and empowerment of all children.

The truth in Bellamy’s statement lies in the understanding that alliances formed with those who share in the core values of equality, justice, and the protection of the vulnerable are the most potent. These are not just empty partnerships based on financial gain, but on a shared vision of a better world. As the great Chinese philosopher Confucius taught, the strength of a society is rooted in the strength of its values. A kingdom, a nation, or even a corporation that seeks to align itself with these values creates not only prosperity but peace. In the same way, UNICEF carefully chooses its allies to ensure that every child—no matter their background or circumstances—has access to the opportunities they deserve.

The lesson we must take from Bellamy’s words is this: to truly advance the good in the world, whether it be through organizations like UNICEF or our own daily lives, we must choose our alliances based on shared values—not just immediate gains. Partnerships should be a means of elevating others, of nurturing those who are vulnerable, of protecting the innocent and the powerless. The pursuit of health, education, equality, and protection is a mission that transcends profit, transcends borders, and transcends personal ambition. We must ask ourselves: what alliances do we make in our own lives, and do they reflect the deeper values that we hold most dear?

What can we do in our own lives to honor this truth? First, we must examine the partnerships and alliances we form, whether in business, community, or family. Are they based on shared values of justice, equality, and compassion? Do they advance the common good, or simply serve our individual desires? Let us strive to build connections that elevate the human spirit, that protect the vulnerable, and that align with the higher purpose of improving the world for future generations.

Let us walk forward, then, with the understanding that alliances, in all their forms, should be rooted in compassion, justice, and the shared desire to protect and empower the most vulnerable. As UNICEF has shown, our partnerships should advance the well-being of all children—ensuring they have the tools to thrive, to learn, to grow, and to contribute to a better world. Through our alliances and actions, may we strive to build a world where equality, health, and protection are not just ideals but living realities for every child, everywhere.