Athlete Hugues Fabrice Zango becomes UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Rights in Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, August 03, 2022 - Athlete Hugues Fabrice ZANGO, 29, has been appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Rights in Burkina Faso. He joins hundreds of athletes, artists, and personalities around the world who use their talents to promote children's rights so that every child is born and grows up healthy, is protected from violence and exploitation, eats enough quality food, has access to clean water, lives in a clean environment, and goes to school, wherever they are and wherever they come from.

"I accepted to be a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador because access to education, health, water and respect for the fundamental rights of all children, especially the most disadvantaged are values that I deeply believe in. I hope to inspire children in Burkina Faso as much as possible to reach their full potential," said Hugues Fabrice Zango upon his appointment. 

Burkina Faso is experiencing a complex humanitarian crisis with 1.9 million internally displaced people, of which more than 61 per cent are children. "I want to bring a message of peace and hope to children and youth. I would like to be by their side to inspire collective action to will contribute towards ensuring that every child has access to education, health and benefits from protection against all forms of violence.", said Hugues Fabrice.

Born on June 25, 1993 in Ouagadougou, Hugues Fabrice is a successful Burkinabe athlete. He finished runner-up in the triple jump at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, winning the silver medal. Hugues Fabrice is also a decorated Olympian, winning Burkina Faso’s first bronze medal in the triple jump during the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. After completing his undergraduate degree in Engineering at the International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (2IE) in Burkina Faso, he went on to pursue a Master's program at the University of Bethune in France, where he graduated at the top of his class. He is now successfully completing his doctoral studies and sports career in Lille, France. 

"We are very honored to welcome Hugues Fabrice Zango among the champions for the children of Burkina Faso! Hard-working and committed, he is a positive role model for children and youth," said Sandra Lattouf, UNICEF’s Representative in Burkina Faso.

Today, as a National Goodwill Ambassador, Hugues Fabrice Zango will actively participate in UNICEF's special events to strengthen advocacy for children.

In June 2020, SMARTY, artist-rapper, signed on as Goodwill Ambassador with UNICEF in Burkina Faso. The artist continues to travel across Burkina Faso to help raise awareness about child marriage, including through his signature song Ombre de la Nuit, education and health.

Welcoming Hugues Fabrice ZANGO to the family of Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, SMARTY wished him every success in his mission to inspire the children, youth and adolescents of Burkina Faso. "Today we are UNICEF’s two Goodwill Ambassadors for the children of our country, who deserve our time, energy and experience to help them reach their full potential," said SMARTY.

UNICEF works with approximately 30 international ambassadors, 200 national ambassadors and 11 regional ambassadors around the world to raise awareness of children's and women's rights and UNICEF's work to protect those rights.

Since 1954, when Danny Kaye began working with UNICEF, celebrities have helped influence government policies for children, raise awareness of children's issues around the world and raise funds for UNICEF-supported programs.