UNICEF NZ Announces First Ever Kiwi Youth Ambassadors

Wellington, 10 August 2010. – Four Kiwi teenagers have been selected as New Zealand’s first ever UNICEF NZ Youth Ambassadors.

They are: Ashreya Duvuru (Avondale, Auckland); Jonathon Gee (North Shore, Auckland); Anthony Wanakore (Fielding); and Francessca Hera Maslin (Gore). The ambassadors are aged between 16 and 17, and all attend high school.

UNICEF NZ Advocacy Manager - International, Vicki Soanes, says that the standard of applications was extremely high.

“It was definitely a tough choice to get down to the last four candidates.

“The new youth ambassadors will start work on August 12, the International Day of Youth. The date also marks the start of the International Year of Youth, which has the theme “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”.

“During the International Year of Youth, the youth ambassadors will take a leading role in raising awareness about issues facing young people and children both in New Zealand and in the developing world.

“One of their first tasks is to contribute to UNICEF’s flagship international publication “The State of the World’s Children”, which each year examines a key issue affecting children around the globe. This year’s theme revolves around the challenges and opportunities facing adolescents.”

Ms Soanes says the youth ambassador programme is an exciting opportunity to engage young people, help them find their own voices, and put youth issues squarely on the agenda.

“The International Year of Youth is about advancing the full and effective participation of young people in all aspects of society, encouraging discussion across generations, and promoting children’s rights. It also promotes the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and freedoms, and solidarity among people around the world.

“For long term sustainability both in developing and developed countries it is critical that the most affected population, youth, be involved in identifying the problems and solutions society faces.

“With the help and support of UNICEF, the Youth Ambassadors will develop their own initiatives to engage with their peers and the general public.”

UNICEF NZ is a leading global advocate for children, whether through supporting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, helping children in emergencies and disasters, or working in long-term development contexts to improve children’s lives.

ENDS

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