UNICEF India appoints Hima Das as the first ever ‘Youth Ambassador’

New Delhi – To inspire and gather the support of India’s 253 million adolescents towards the cause of children and young people, UNICEF India appoints Asian Games Gold medallist Hima Das as the country’s first-ever Youth Ambassador today in New Delhi.

Hima’s onboarding as a youth ambassador is part of a series of initiatives and events to advocate for a safe and supportive environment in schools for both boys and girls, in the lead-up to World Children’s Day on 20 November. On this day, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified.

An 18-year-old girl from the Dhing village in Assam, Hima, has emerged as an international award-winning sprint runner. She has won a silver medal in the 400 meters sprint at the recently-concluded Asian Games in Jakarta, and a gold in the 4X400 meters relay in the same event.

Through her appointment as a Youth Ambassador, she would serve as a role model, inspiring millions of children and young people to take action to make the world a better place and ensure that their rights are respected.

Young people are effective champions for the issues that most impact them. This World Children’s Day, UNICEF Youth Ambassadors/ Advocates will be appointed across the globe to inspire other youth to take action and effectively catalyse children and young people as agents of change.

Ms Laura Siegrist Fouché, representing UNICEF India, said, “Hima is a young athlete, and she can inspire millions of young people to realise their dreams and aspirations. By appointing her as our first-ever Youth Ambassador, we aim to leverage her potential in galvanizing children and adolescents to bring about positive change in the country.”