Throughout our lives we learn about fascinating people who have do not receive the fame or recognition that they rightfully deserve. Carol Bellamy is one such person.
I was recently introduced to Ms. Bellamy and enlightened by one of her many insightful quotes about children, the focus of her lifelong passion and work.
“When the lives and the rights of children are at stake, there must be no silent witnesses.”
I encourage you to learn more about this amazing woman.
Carol Bellamy (born January 14, 1942) has been Director of the Peace Corps, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and President and CEO of World Learning. In April, 2009, Bellamy was appointed as Chair of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Board of Governors. She is currently working as Chair of the Education for All-Fast Track Initiative, a multidonor trust fund based in Washington DC that aims to reach the Millennium Development Goals 2 and 3 and the Dakar Objectives of Education for All.(www.educationfasttrack.org) On February 18, 2011, Bellamy was named Chair of the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices, a non-profit organization that aims to ensure that recruitment of foreign-educated health professionals to the United States is ethical, responsible, and transparent.
Early life and education
Bellamy was born and raised in the Scotch Plains,NJ. She attended Gettysburg College, where she was a member of Delta Gamma, and graduated in 1963. She earned her law degree from New York University School of Law in 1968. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala from 1963 to 1965.
Business career
Bellamy was a Managing Director at the now defunct Bear Stearns from 1990 to 1993, a Principal at Morgan Stanley from 1986 to 1990, and an associate in the New York law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore from 1968 to 1971.
Political career
Bellamy was elected to the New York State Senate in 1972, representing a Brooklyn district. In 1977, she was elected the first female president of the New York City Council, a position she held until her unsuccessful bid for Mayor of New York in 1985. In 1982 she considered running for Governor of New York. In 1990 she was an unsuccessful candidate for New York State Comptroller. In 2005 she was appointed to the New York State Board of Regents, which oversees all state education activities and the state Department of Education.
From 1993 to 1995, Bellamy was the director of the Peace Corps. Appointed by President Bill Clinton, she was the first person to have been both a Peace Corps Volunteer and director.
UNICEF
From 1995 to 2005, Bellamy completed ten years as Executive Director of UNICEF. She was appointed to that position in 1995 by Boutros Boutros-Ghali, then the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Bellamy was granted a second five-year term in 2000 by Boutros-Ghali's successor, Kofi Annan. UN policy states that agency heads may serve no more than two five-year terms.
Bellamy's successor as UNICEF Executive Director is Ann M. Veneman, who, prior to joining UNICEF, was the United States Secretary of Agriculture. Though Bellamy's tenure was tumultuous, she is credited with having left behind a fiscally sound organization with strong internal controls. She doubled UNICEF's resources from roughly $800 million in 1994 to more than $1.8 billion in 2004.
NGOs
Bellamy was appointed the President and CEO of the Brattleboro, Vermont-based World Learning and president of its School for International Training in 2005. World Learning is a global organization with operations in more than 75 countries that fosters global citizenship through experiential education and community-driven development programs. Organizations that fund World Learning include the Tides Foundation and Rockefeller Financial Services.
On July 25, 2007, Bellamy was elected Chair of the Board of Directors of the Fair Labor Association (FLA). The FLA protects workers' rights and improves working conditions by promoting adherence to international labor standards. "For eight years the FLA has been strengthening its capacity to work with companies, factories, civil society organizations and others to end sweatshop labor and protect workers' rights. It is now moving beyond its rigorous monitoring program to focus greater attention on identifying the root causes of these problems and to develop sustainable compliance programs," said Bellamy in accepting the position.[citation needed]
International Baccalaureate
In April, 2009, Bellamy replaced Monique Seefried as the Chair of the International Baccalaureate's Board of Governors. She delivered a keynote speech at IB's Peterson Lectures on "The Serious Business of Children".
Honors
Bellamy is a former Fellow of the Harvard Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and an honorary member of Pi Alpha Alpha. At its 1982 commencement ceremonies, Barnard College awarded Bellamy the college's highest honor, the Medal of Distinction.
Bellamy received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Bates College in 2003. She returned to her alma mater, the NYU School of Law, to deliver a commencement day speech in May 2006.
In Japan, she was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun in 2006.
