Liz Lane

UNICEF Names 1st Goodwill Ambassador Who Is a Refugee

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

Model/actress Emily Ratajkowski caused a bit of a stir earlier this week in announcing she’d be the new face of Kérastase, a company that specializes in luxury hair care products for men and women. But Ratajkowski announced the appointment on her Instagram page with a caption that left some pulling their hair.

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 labor," she said.

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

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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