On Saturday, UNICEF India unveiled Bollywood luminary Kareena Kapoor Khan as its new National Ambassador. The actress, known for her role in “The Crew,” has been involved with UNICEF India since 2014 and will now aid the non-profit organization in advancing the rights of every child, focusing on early childhood development, health, education, and gender equality, as per a press release.
Previously serving as a Celebrity Advocate for UNICEF India, Kareena expressed her commitment to children’s rights, stating, “There are few things as important as the rights of children, the future generation of this world. I am honored to continue my association with UNICEF now as India’s National Ambassador.”
She further pledged to utilize her platform to advocate for vulnerable children, particularly in areas such as early childhood, education, and gender equality, emphasizing, “For every child deserves a childhood, a fair chance, a future.”
In addition to Kareena, UNICEF India has introduced its inaugural Youth Advocates, who serve as peer leaders and champions for various causes such as climate action, mental health, innovation, and Girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
The four advocates include Gauranshi Sharma from Madhya Pradesh, focusing on the right to play and disability inclusion; Kartik Verma from Uttar Pradesh, advocating for climate action and child rights; Nahid Afrin, a singer from Assam, dedicated to mental health and early childhood development; and Vinisha Umashankar from Tamil Nadu, a budding innovator and pioneer in STEM.
“These youth advocates are part of UNICEF’s global initiative and join a cohort of over 93 youth advocates worldwide who are driving change on issues affecting children and young people,” stated UNICEF India.
Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF India Representative, expressed delight in welcoming Kareena Kapoor Khan as the National Ambassador. “She has brought energy and impact through her support for several national and global campaigns. She joins as UNICEF India National Ambassador alongside our four Youth Advocates. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with her and the four youth advocates to continue advocating for children’s rights,” she added.