In a historic first, UNICEF appointed a 19-year-old Syrian refugee as its goodwill ambassador. Muzoon Al-Mellehan, who fled the war torn country five years ago, is now the youngest emissary of hope, change and education. She is also the first woman who has been appointed as ambassador while holding a refugee status.
According to the world body, Mellehan lived in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan and worked to champion girls’ education. Speaking on the occasion of her appointment, she said, “As a refugee, I saw what happens when children are forced into early marriage or manual labour.”
For a 19-year-old, Mallehan is incredibly mature and has been able to spread positivity and optimism, at a time when kids have witnessed horrors of civil wars.
Before UNICEf’s newest goodwill ambassador works for children’s rights in the rest of the world, here’s how she inspired kids around her.
This is life always look for the light between darkness.✨ pic.twitter.com/vfzWI12pXZ
— Muzoon Al-Mellehan (@muzoonrakan1) 3 February 2017"I am proud to be working with UNICEF to help give these children a voice and to get them into school" @muzoonrakan1 @UNICEFJordan pic.twitter.com/kV90Q15Pfh
— Geert Cappelaere (@gcappelaere) 19 June 2017“I knew education was the key to my future, so when I fled #Syria, the only belongings I took with me were my school books,” @muzoonrakan1 pic.twitter.com/D76KhlTk9O
— Geert Cappelaere (@gcappelaere) 19 June 2017@muzoonrakan1 championed girls' ed in @ZaatariCamp & @Azraq_Camp is now a #Unicef Global Goodwill Ambassador for children! Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/EUFa4B4vaV
— Robert Jenkins (@RobertG_Jenkins) 19 June 2017We 💙 this from our youngest-ever Goodwill Ambassador @muzoonrakan1 to #ChildrenUprooted.
RT if you believe #AChildIsAChild. #RefugeeDay pic.twitter.com/njJsdDFcZg
#Nevergiveup, always find a reason to keep trying.
— Muzoon Al-Mellehan (@muzoonrakan1) 12 June 2017‘Some people call us the lost generation. We are not lost. We have not lost our love of learning’ #Muzoon #EducationCannotWait pic.twitter.com/dSbM7czmld
— UNICEF Education (@UNICEFEducation) 28 May 2017"I told myself I have to do something. Education is important for me and so it is important for all" - @muzoonrakan1 tells @AmroliwalaBBC pic.twitter.com/jBNBTWwgpo
— Unicef UK Media (@Unicefuk_media) 19 June 2017‘Dear fellow refugee… It may feel like everything is dark and hopeless, but there is light ahead.’ #Muzoon #EducationCannotWait pic.twitter.com/AQFWzjNQb7
— UNICEF Education (@UNICEFEducation) 23 May 2017Failure is not the end of your story, so don't give up!
الفشل ليس نهاية قصتك، لذلك لاتستسلم!💪🏻✌️
"War can take your friends, your family and your home from you but will never take away your knowledge" @muzoonrakan1 pic.twitter.com/YUWJc2GdBB
— Unicef CHAD (@UNICEFChad) 23 April 2017