Ann Thongprasom and Theeradej Wongpuapan appointed Youth Ambassador for UNICEF Thailand
BANGKOK, 27 March 2008 – UNICEF Thailand announced today that Ann Thongprasom and Theeradej Wongpuapan, two of Thailand’s most popular actors, have been appointed to serve as the organization’s Youth Ambassadors. As Youth Ambassadors, Ann and Theeradej will help UNICEF bring greater public attention to the challenges still facing children in Thailand today, including improving the quality of education, protecting children from violence and abuse, and preventing the spread of HIV and caring for children affected by HIV/AIDS. The new Youth Ambassadors, who were appointed to their positions earlier this month, will also help UNICEF mobilize additional resources to meet these challenges. “I am very pleased to welcome two more individuals who have chosen to join us in meeting these challenges,” said former Thai Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Thailand, at a UNICEF press conference at Bangkok’s Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel. “Khun Ann and Khun Theeradej are well-known celebrities who are widely and rightfully admired for their charm, intelligence and many talents. By making this commitment to help children in Thailand they are showing they have great integrity as well.” Anand said. Globally, UNICEF has appointed over 200 Ambassadors from the world of arts, entertainment, sports and public life to help promote efforts to improve children’s well-being. Among the notables serving as UNICEF Ambassadors are David Beckham, Ricky Martin, Jackie Chan, Sir Alex Ferguson, Lucy Liu, Shakira Mebarak, Sebastio Salgado and Roger Federer.
On her first mission as a UNICEF Youth Ambassador, Ann visited several UNICEF-supported projects in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces in early March where she met children from ethnic minority communities, including stateless children and children living with HIV. Theeradej’s first mission was to UNICEF-supported projects in Krabi province, where he learned about UNICEF-supported efforts to improve the quality of education, thwart the spread of HIV/AIDS and establish community-based systems to monitor the well-being of children. Tomoo Hozumi, the UNICEF Representative for Thailand, accompanied Ann and Theeradej on the missions. “I can say that Khun Ann and Khun Theeradej both have clearly exhibited the concern and the commitment needed to be outstanding advocates for children and young people in Thailand.” Hozumi said. Ann and Theeradej said the field visits introduced them to some of the more difficult problems children in Thailand live with every day of their lives and that they would do their best to bring such problems to the attention of the public. “It needs the help of everyone in the society if they are to find the best solutions to such problems,” Ann said. “I believe once people are more aware of these problems, they will be happy to support UNICEF and its partners in solving these problems.” Theeradej said: “The more I know about the issues affecting children in Thailand, the more effective I can be as a Youth Ambassador. I am glad that I have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children in Thailand.” END
UNICEF has been working in Thailand for almost 60 years, helping children to survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories around the world, supporting child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Mark Thomas, UNICEF Thailand, Tel. 02 356 9481, 081 172 9902 Nattha Keenapan, UNICEF Thailand, Tel. 02 356 9478, 086 616 7555
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VIDEO: Youth Ambassador for UNICEF Thailand Theeradej Wongpuapan visits UNICEF-supported projects in Krabi Province in March 2008.
