UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors are well-known personalities willing to do their utmost to mobilize support for children around the world among the general public and within their industry. These volunteers demonstrate a high level of commitment to children and to the organization. Most represent specialized fields in the arts, sports and contemporary culture. To date, UNICEF has worked with over 200 Goodwill Ambassadors from different industries, including entertainment, sports, and arts, such as David Beckham, Jackie Chan, Shakira, Orlando Bloom, Ewan McGregor, Ricky Martin, Katy Perry, and Lionel Messi.
“Friends of UNICEF” is an initiative under which UNICEF Thailand works closely with a group of carefully selected celebrities from different industries to promote the rights of children and to recruit supporters to the cause.
Friends of UNICEF can help focus the public’s attention on the most pressing needs facing children. They represent positive role models for young people and they show a strong and genuine interest in the issues that children are facing. Friends of UNICEF can make direct representations to those with the power to effect change. They can use their talents, their voices and fame to advocate for children, to encourage positive action and to mobilize resources to address the challenges they face. In this way, they provide invaluable support to UNICEF’s mission to ensure the protection and fulfillment of every child’s right to health, education, protection, and equal opportunity.
Goodwill Ambassador (GWA)
I am proud to be part of UNICEF. Child and youth development are crucial to our country’s future; and this requires continued effort and commitment from all of us.
In Thailand, the former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun was appointed as UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador in 1996. He has played an important role in raising awareness on a range of issues facing children. He has also been a driving force in the mobilization of funds that enable UNICEF’s work for children in Thailand and across the world.
Friends of UNICEF
In May 2017, UNICEF has appointed four new Friends of UNICEF, including Kiatisuk “Zico” Senamuang, “Noodee” Vanessa Race, and “Peach” Pachara Chirathivat and “Mai” Davika Hoorne. Together with Paula Taylor and Nichkun Horvejkul – who have been Friends of UNICEF since 2013, the four celebrities will help UNICEF spread awareness of the challenges and vulnerabilities that still face millions of children in Thailand.
Their first collaboration with UNICEF is in lending their support and their voices to the #FightUnfair campaign. This campaign will engage with the public to highlight the inequities facing children in Thailand, and call for public support and action to address these challenges and enable every child to have a fair chance in life.
The Friends of UNICEF will highlight the importance of investing in early childhood development for every child, protecting every child from violence, ensuring inclusive education that brings every child to school, and helping every adolescent to remain healthy, informed and engaged.
Nichkhun Horvejkul
Nichkhun is a Thai-American singer and actor. He is currently based in South Korea as a member of a boy band 2PM. As a Friend of UNICEF, appointed in 2013, Nichkun help UNICEF Thailand to promote rights of a child. He did several field visits with UNICEF and help UNICEF to fundraise in many campaigns.
Paula Taylor
Paula is an experienced actress and a model. She is also a mother with 2 young lovely children now living in Hong Kong. Paula was appointed as Friends of UNICEF in 2013, and has been helping UNICEF Thailand to promote early childhood development, especially breastfeeding, since then.
Davika Hoorne (Mai)
Davika is one of the leading actresses in Thailand. She won several awards during her 7-year career. Before being appointed as Friend of UNICEF in 2017, Davika has supported UNICEF in many campaigns including Basket of Hope, a fundraising campaign to raise fund for children affected by emergencies around the world. Now, she is helping UNICEF to advocate for every child in Thailand a fair chance.
Pachara Chirathiwat (Peach)
Pachara is a young singer and actor. He is an example of a young people who raise his voice creatively. He was awarded an Outstanding Youth Award in 2013. Pachara was appointed as Friend of UNICEF in 2017 to help UNICEF Thailand to promote voices of youth, sexual health among youth people and adolescent participation.
Vanessa Race (Noodee)
Vanessa has over 10 years experience working with children. She has a very well understanding about brain and child development. Vanessa supported UNICEF Thailand in Best Start campaign to promote early childhood development in 2015. She was appointed as Friend of UNICEF in 2017, and will help UNICEF to promote early childhood development and positive parenting.
Kiatisuk Senamuang (Zico)
Kiatisuk is a former footballer and a former manager for Thailand national football team. He is a father of 3 lovely daughter and a founder of his own foundation to give opporunity to children in remote area to play footbal. Kiatisuk was appointed as Friend of UNICEF in 2017 to help UNICEF Thailand advocate for equality in access to quality education for every child in Thailand.
