1. What was it like over in Afghanistan and how were you able to help children through UNICEF?
—Nicole C., age 16

Clay Aiken: The people of Afghanistan were extremely friendly and gracious. Everywhere we traveled, we were greeted warmly. With the exception of visiting my grandparents, I have never felt more welcomed. Since 1949, UNICEF has been working for the survival and development of children in Afghanistan. I witnessed UNICEF's extraordinary education work, which has helped hundreds of thousands of children return to school, provided them with school supplies, trained thousands of teachers, built hundreds of schools or provided tents so children can study sheltered from the weather. And it's not only children who are receiving an education through UNICEF-supported programs. Women, who were forbidden an education under the Taliban regime, now walk for almost an hour to learn how to read and write and experience formal education for the first time.

2. When you were on your tour for UNICEF, what was your reaction when you found out that most girls previously had no access to education? When I found out that mostly girls had no access to education, as a girl, I was shocked!
—Julianne E, age 8

Clay Aiken: Before I left I read a lot about Afghanistan, so I knew that girls had not been allowed to attend school until recently. As a result, I was full of hope and joy when I visited several Afghan schools that were full of young girls. They sit three to a short bench inside UNICEF-provided, makeshift tent classrooms, because there are so many of them that the schools are not big enough to hold them. I also visited young boys and girls in Bamyan (in Afghanistan's central highlands) who, although they don't even have the luxury of a tent, crowd by the hundreds into courtyards to study alongside each other—something that would have never been allowed under the Taliban regime—using supplies provided by UNICEF. It is an exciting time of learning for children in Afghanistan!

3. What made you want to help out different charities?
—Brooke S., age 10

Clay Aiken: I focus my efforts on helping two charities in particular—UNICEF and the Bubel/Aiken Foundation.

I chose UNICEF because it is the world's leading international children's organization, working in more than 150 countries to make sure children survive and thrive. And I co-founded and continue to work hard for the Bubel/Aiken Foundation which works to bridge the gap that exists between people with special needs and the world around them.

I chose to support these two organizations because they support education and I believe that education is essential to the development of all children.

4. What made you think about helping children with special needs?
—Sikedra L., age 10

Clay Aiken: I began working with kids as a camp counselor at my local YMCA and then I was asked to substitute teach at a local elementary school. After I accepted the position I learned that my students had autism. The more I worked with these amazing children the more I saw children with developmental disabilities being turned away from inclusion in programs. So it became my dream to help fix this and to work for inclusion.

5. Who was the first person who brought music to your life?
—Fares A., age 11

Clay Aiken: My mom. She believed in me from the beginning, and kept telling me that my voice would take me places. She believed in me more than I believed in myself and was always there to encourage me.

6. What made you go on American Idol?
—Sierra S., age 11

Clay Aiken: At the time I was working with a boy with autism named Mike Bubel. I became very close with him and his whole family and his mother Diane. Diane is the one who kept encouraging me to audition and finally I did.

7. Clay, what was it like being on American Idol?
—Katie K., age 12

Clay Aiken: The best part was the great friends I made.

8. Hi, Clay! If you never went on American Idol, what do you think your life would be like now?
—Melissa L., age 10

Clay Aiken: I would definitely be a teacher for children with special needs.

9. Do you like being famous?
—Samantha B., age 14

Clay Aiken: Sometimes it's really hard, but I always remind myself of the great opportunities that have come with it and am thankful for the way I have been able to use my voice to help children around the world.

10. What do you do when you're not working?
—Vannessa H., age 13

Clay Aiken: When I'm not working I love spending time with my family and friends, traveling and reading books to continue learning more about the world.











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