UNICEF names first goodwill ambassador who is a refugee

The U.N. children’s agency on Monday announced the appointment of its youngest goodwill ambassador — 19-year-old Syrian refugee and education activist Muzoon Almellehan.

UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Justin Forsyth said that Muzoon is the first goodwill envoy with official refugee status.

UNICEF said she received support from the agency while she was living in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan. She follows in the footsteps the late actress and goodwill ambassador Audrey Hepburn who was also supported by UNICEF as a child.

Muzoon said when she fled Syria she only took her school books with her.

“As a refugee, I saw what happens when children are forced into early marriage or manual labour,” she said.

Working with UNICEF, she said, will help to “give these children a voice and to get them into school.”

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This story has been corrected to show that Muzoon is female.