The advent of computers and modern technology has brought a revolution in the field of information. Modern educated youth can help in national development by attending to the ills and shortcomings in various sectors. That is why UNICEF has appointed Youth ambassadors under their youth ambassadorship program in several countries to lead the country's youth in correct ways. So who are these Youth Ambassadors, and what do they do?
Youth Ambassadors and Movements
Youth ambassadors are energetic young people who represent and defend the rights of young people. Even sophisticated organizations like UNICEF rely on the involvement of young people in their social development campaigns.
Youth Ambassadors play an active and decisive role in campaigns through peer-to-peer activities, participation in national or international organizations, and involvement in international youth events. These youth ambassadors are usually aged between 15-18 years but have established a good name in their field. Youth ambassadors are appointed to do the following things:
●Co-operating with challenges affecting youth employment to generate ideas and solutions to help all young people.
●Encourage, motivate, and assist young people in becoming Young Professionals.
●Share their own and other young people's experiences and opinions on topics related to youth employment – blogs, attending events and conferences, publishing articles, etc.
●Encourage organizations to adopt youth-friendly policies and procedures to provide more possibilities for all young people.
●To help ensure that young people's voices are perceived and that the outcomes of new tools and services meet the needs of young people.
Wang Yuan as China's Youth Ambassador
Wang Yuan, aka Roy, is a renowned singer, actor, and China's UNICEF Youth Ambassador. Wang's first single, "Cause of You," was launched in 2016 and instantly came on the Asia Billboard chart for new songs.
As UN's Imagine 2030 Campaign's spokesperson, Wang Yuan spoke at the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Youth Forum in New York in 2017, where he talked about quality education as one of the Sustainable Development Goals in his speech. Wang Yuan is dedicated to supporting children's rights in various topics, including quality education, adolescent empowerment, water, sanitation, and hygiene, first as a UNICEF Special Advocate for Education and now as a UNICEF Ambassador (WASH). Wang Yuan, with his large social media following, has been actively endorsing UNICEF's ambitious works, such as World Children's Day and Future +Me.
Hina Asif Wardak as Afghanistan's Youth Ambassador
Hinna, 15, is a ninth-grade girl in Kabul, Afghanistan. For the past eight years already, she has worked as a part-time presenter for Shamshad TV, where she hosts her weekly show named 'Hinna', where she interviews a key political person about issues concerning children's well-being.
Hinna supports the Afghanistan National Youth and Adolescent Network, a critical tool for sharing information from the field to the national level and then up to the Global Youth Council, and vice versa. She was invited to represent Afghanistan at the Global Youth Network earlier this year (GYN).
These were only two youth ambassadors appointed under UNICEF's youth ambassadorship program. Such ambassadors have been assigned in almost every country to support UNICEF's mission and vision for the youth.