Kristin Davis meets Sister Angelique Namaika, winner of the 2013 Nansen Refugee Award, in Dungu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Celebrity Support

150 UNHCR Global Appeal 2016-2017 NHCR’s goodwill ambassadors and high-profile supporters Uare playing an increasingly important role in bringing the refugee cause to new audiences worldwide. As messengers, advocates and fundraisers, they bring their voice and influence to bear, helping to engage communities more deeply in the refugee story. UNHCR’s supporters are active across the media, including social media, as well as in person. With displacement levels at their highest ever recorded, goodwill ambassadors help draw attention to the individual human experiences behind the overwhelming statistics. In 2016, UNHCR’s goodwill ambassador programme will build on the successes of 2015 by engaging the organization’s committed supporters in key campaigns and emergency appeals, and securing further celebrity support to extend the reach of UNHCR messages. lll UNHCR/K. HOLT

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ººMeaningful engagement

he UNHCR goodwill individuals and communities, and to focusing on youth and education, ambassador programme the vital role played by UNHCR and whilst actor and presenter Jung involves high-profile its partners. Woo-sung serves as Goodwill individuals who represent Having goodwill ambassadors Ambassador for the Republic the organization’s values. who speak from personal experience of Korea. In 2016, UNHCR THaving invited these individuals is a key tenet of UNHCR’s approach will welcome new goodwill to work with UNHCR, the Office to celebrity engagement. The ambassadors at a global, regional focuses on developing strong and involvement of former refugees such and national level. These new credible relationships. This includes as Khaled Hosseini, Ger Duany recruits will serve alongside existing inviting goodwill ambassadors to and Alek Wek, brings an additional goodwill ambassadors including travel with UNHCR on field missions dimension of insight and advocacy. Honorary Lifetime Goodwill to meet refugees, internally displaced In 2015, UNHCR warmly Ambassador Barbara Hendricks, and stateless people, as well as the welcomed new goodwill Aidos Sagat, Alek Wek, George organization’s own field staff. With ambassadors. Actor Ger Duany Dalaras, Jesús Vázquez, Khaled this in-depth experience, they can then is regional Goodwill Ambassador Hosseini, Osvaldo Laport, and be authentic witnesses to the plight of for the East and Horn of Africa, Sheikha Rima Al Sabah.

I am honoured that UNHCR has selected me to join the ranks of those who speak for refugees. It is my turn and my humble obligation to take up the mantle, having survived the tragic exodus that is famously called ‘The Lost Boys of Sudan’, having been given the opportunity to receive a world-class education and to realize my potential.

UNHCR/D. NAHR – Ger Duany, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador for Ger Duany in a school in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya. the East and Horn of Africa

Other new supporters are Claudio Amendola, Francesco also helping build UNHCR’s Pannofino and Lorena Bianchetti community of concerned high- (Italy), Craig Ferguson (Scotland/ profile advocates. Those who have United States), Diego Luna shared powerful and engaging (Mexico), Iskui Abalyan (Belarus), stories from the field include James Rodriguez and Juanes Ahmad Al Shugairi (Saudi Arabia), (Colombia), John Abraham (India) Alessandro Gassman (Italy), and Luol Deng (United States) Cate Blanchett (Australia), David have expressed their concern for Morrissey, Douglas Booth and the refugee cause via a range of Neil Gaiman (United Kingdom), activities, including events, social Friederike Kempter (Germany), media support and appeal films. Helena Christensen (Denmark), The Office looks forward to Kat Graham and Kristin Davis continued support in 2016 from (United States) and Rokia Traoré these, and other, high-profile (Mali). Meanwhile, supporters supporters.

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ººLending support where it is most needed

n appealing for support and funds In Lesvos, Greece, actor David to help refugee emergencies, Morrissey met refugees who UNHCR greatly welcomes had just survived a dangerous having the voices of prominent journey crossing the Aegean Sea personalities who care deeply in search of safety and protection. Ifor the cause, which strengthens He reported on the tragic stories the reach of the stories, images and of many children and families, testimonials of those forced to flee. particularly connecting with a 13-year-old Syrian refugee, Syria crisis Muhammad, who had not seen his The conflict in the Syrian Arab family in two years. Using media Republic (Syria) has resulted in more interviews and his own social than 4 million refugees being forced media channels, David drew the to flee their homes, the vast majority clear distinction between refugees to neighbouring countries. Author and economic migrants, and urged Khaled Hosseini has visited Jordan, a a collective response to the crisis. country hosting more than 600,000 From Lebanon, actor Cate Syrian refugees – 80 per cent of Blanchett shared the moving whom live in urban dwellings rather story of Ahmad, a 14-year-old than camps. During his meetings refugee boy who had dropped out with refugee families and UNHCR of school in order to help support staff, Khaled learned and then his family, but who was finding wrote about UNHCR’s innovative encouragement and new hope via cash assistance programme, which a community-based project for is addressing the needs of the most refugee youth. The project was vulnerable Syrian refugees. helping him make new friends and Khaled’s understanding of the express his feelings through drama. situation in Jordan and his own Cate’s short film became the most personal experience of displacement watched World Refugee Day video, have enabled the production of helping audiences understand that interviews, feature articles and videos refugees are ordinary people just related to this visit. He also wrote like themselves, but living through an op-ed that ran in several major extraordinary times. publications.

The question of cash versus in-kind donation is an old debate in the humanitarian world. A donor’s impulse to send shoes or blankets is understandable, but the reality is all items are a representation of monetary value. Items have a price tag and they often get sold in order to serve a priority need. Cash gives refugees freedom of choice to make decisions that best meet their families’ speci c needs. It restores a sense of dignity. – Excerpt from Goodwill Ambassador Khaled Hosseini’s opinion piece in The Financial Times, 25 May 2015.

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Refugee crisis in Europe Colombia When the influx of refugees and For her first UNHCR mission, migrants to Europe hit the headlines model and photographer Helena in 2015, the goodwill ambassadors Christensen travelled to Colombia in and high-profile supporters amplified April 2015, where she photographed the call to support refugees, urging women displaced by violence to the public to donate to UNHCR’s demonstrate their courage and operations. For example, writer Neil resilience. Gaiman’s blogs and social media More broadly in Latin America, posts reached millions of people a wide range of celebrities, including across multiple countries. footballer James Rodriguez, musician Juanes, and actor Diego Luna, We need to treat all human beings with supported the "Travelling Backpack" respect and dignity. We need to ensure that campaign by sharing messages of support and solidarity for refugee the human rights of migrants are respected. children all around the world. At the same time, we also need to provide In 2016, high-profile supporters an appropriate legal response for refugees, will continue to spotlight the human impact of the Syria crisis, whilst because of their particular predicament. also drawing attention to crises in other regions across the globe where – Excerpt from Neil Gaiman’s online blog entry on the UNHCR’s support and expertise are European refugee crisis, 6 September 2015. being deployed.

South Sudan High-profile supporters have highlighted not only emergency response, but also efforts to provide sustainable solutions for refugees. During her visit to northern Uganda in June 2015, actor Kristin Davis met with refugees who had fled their homes in South Sudan, many of them children. She spent time getting to know Fiona Taba, who at 15 years of

age escaped violence to reach safety UNHCR/H. PEREZ in Uganda. Kristin learnt about Helena and Maribeth, who was displaced Fiona’s participation in a UNHCR- from the department of Choco, in Altos de funded business development scheme La Florida, Colombia. where she has been an apprentice tailor, enabling her to use her passion for making fashionable clothes to support her family.

The people I have met have shown extraordinary resilience. And it is the same with refugees all over the world. Despite losing so much, and having their lives reset to zero, they still want to achieve – for their families, their community, and their country. It seems to me that the very least each one of us can give refugees, both across the world and in our own schools, communities, countries, is to honour these words: You are welcome here. You are safe now. We are here to help you.

– High-Profile Supporter Kristin Davis reflecting on her mission to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in June 2015, in a feature for Marie Claire magazine.

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ººSupporting fundraising and donor relations

oodwill ambassadors and As well as making a powerful high-profile supporters case for why donors should play an increasingly consider supporting UNHCR’s important role in engaging groundbreaking cash assistance new supporters and campaign, Khaled Hosseini and Gencouraging donations to UNHCR. supporter David Morrissey also Ahmad Al-Shugairi dedicated an spotlighted IKEA’s “Brighter Lives” episode of his television programme campaign for refugees, conveying Khawatir to highlight the needs of messages of support to customers and Syrian refugees, and generated more IKEA workers. than USD 4.7 million in donations Social media has, and will to support UNHCR’s Lifeline appeal continue to be, another effective – delivering direct support to over means for celebrity supporters to call 3,100 families. for urgently needed donations.

ººAmplifying global campaigns

hrough the #IBelong Statelessness Campaign, Cate Blanchett will continue to highlight the plight of stateless people, helping to Tdrive UNHCR’s goal to eradicate statelessness by 2024. Honorary Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador Barbara Hendricks is also a passionate advocate for the campaign. In early 2015, Barbara spoke on the issue of statelessness alongside the High Commissioner at a conference of the Economic Community of West African States in Côte d’Ivoire. On World Refugee Day, 20 June, the world commemorates the UNHCR/J. MATAS strength, courage, and resilience Cate Blanchett with Rama, who is stateless. Her mother is Lebanese and the family live in of millions of refugees. UNHCR’s Lebanon but Rama’s father is stateless, and under Lebanese law her mother cannot give her World Refugee Day campaign Lebanese nationality to her husband or children. provides a prime opportunity to communicate with the public to raise awareness and empathy for the In 2015, supporters undertook refugee cause. field missions, recorded short World Refugee Day has become a films, conducted media interviews, crucial moment for celebrity support, attended events, and engaged and will continue to be so in 2016. audiences via social media.

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With the theme of “ordinary 1954, it recognizes the values and people living through extraordinary achievements of Fridtjof Nansen: times” and with the aim of building the famous polar explorer, Nobel more empathy and understanding Peace Prize laureate and diplomat, for refugees, goodwill ambassadors who served as the first High and high-profile supporters shared Commissioner for Refugees for the the stories of individuals they had League of Nations. personally met. These included For 61 years, UNHCR’s Nansen Zaruhi Babayan, Cate Blanchett, Refugee Award has recognized Helena Christensen, Kristin Davis, those who have gone beyond the Neil Gaiman, Khaled Hosseini, call of duty to protect the forcibly David Morrissey, Emma Thompson, displaced and stateless. The 2015 Jung Woo-sung, and Maher Zain. winner of UNHCR’s Nansen Kat Graham marked World Refugee Refugee Award, Aqeela Asifi, was Day with live tweets during a field visit recognized for her courageous to meet Central American families and determined efforts to provide displaced by violence on the border education to hundreds of young between Mexico and Guatemala. Afghan refugee girls. Meanwhile, in Washington DC, Each year, high-profile artists Sheikha Rima Al Sabah worked join UNHCR in Geneva to honour with UNHCR to help organize the the Nansen laureate, performing premier of the documentary “Salaam at a prestigious ceremony that Neighbor” as well as a special garners global attention. In 2015, “Champions of Change” event at Barbara Hendricks performed at the White House, recognizing the the ceremony, alongside musician achievements of refugees. Senior and fellow humanitarian Angelique foreign policy and domestic policy Kidjo. Ger Duany joined the event advisors spoke at the event. as guest speaker, reflecting on his Few humanitarian honours personal experiences of displacement possess the rich legacy of the Nansen and his commitment to education for Refugee Award. Established in refugee youth. n

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Telling the refugee story

Extracts from an op-ed by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Khaled Hosseini 30 SEPTEMBER 2015 trauma of fleeing your country, your focus is on the immediate. You want to protect your children and seek sanctuary. You want to simply survive. It takes time to process fully that going home anytime soon is an improbable dream; that your life has been re-set at zero; that you have to build it back up from nothing. When this acceptance does eventually set in, a shift happens, from survival to resilience, and with it a determination to be strong, move forward, and create anew.

Asifi’s children had seen their education interrupted by war and displacement. As a former teacher, she could not watch them

UNHCR/J. MATAS languish in a state of arrested development. UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Khaled Hosseini meeting newly-arrived Syrian refugees in Azraq camp, Jordan. She was struck by the lack of schools in Kot Chandana and a total absence of learning opportunities for girls. Having won the Like millions around the world, I have … Far too often, refugees are viewed as backing of the village elders, Asifi went door- been moved by the recent public outcry burdens. In reality, refugees often become to-door convincing reluctant parents to let and spontaneous acts of solidarity towards some of the most dynamic members of her tutor their girls. With 20 pupils, a tent, refugees in Europe. It has been riveting to society. It is well known that Einstein was hand written worksheets, and above all, fierce watch, as well as greatly encouraging. As an a refugee, as was Marlene Dietrich, and determination, she started a school. Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Madeleine Albright, George Soros, Sigmund Agency, I have been overwhelmed by the Freud, Isabelle Allende, to name just a few. Asifi’s tiny school blossomed and she support for the organization’s efforts in But there are millions of other names, less received funding from the Pakistani Europe, where UNHCR has delivered tents, celebrated but no less heroic refugees, government. Asifi expanded the school to blankets, food and other essential items that working quietly, anonymously, often under six tents and began including local Pakistani refugee families so desperately need in this difficult and dangerous circumstances. Aqeela girls as well. Today, the school is a permanent period of emergency. Asifi, whom UNHCR has announced as this building. Asifi has transformed the lives year’s Nansen Refugee Award laureate in of over 1,000 girls, and her efforts have But what next? What happens when the recognition of her extraordinary commitment encouraged another six schools to open with dramatic images fade from our TV screens? and exceptional service to refugees, is one a further 1,500 girls and boys enrolled… such name. They must not fade as well from our collective … I hope, when the media spotlight inevitably consciousness. As incredibly trying as this In 1992, at the age of 26 years, Asifi fled the moves away from the current crisis in Europe, initial emergency has been for all involved Mujahedeen siege of Kabul, Afghanistan, with that the awareness and goodwill of the public parties, this is when the hard work truly her husband and two small children, and towards refugees across the world remains begins. It is vital to remember that the average arrived in the remote Kot Chandana refugee strong, that we remember that refugees need length of time a refugee lives in exile is village in Pakistan. When she first fled her more than just emergency support. They need over 15 years, be it in a camp in Jordan or native country, she thought it would be a the hope of a future, as we all do. I hope Uganda, an informal settlement in Lebanon matter of months before she was home once we remember that refugees make lasting or Thailand, or resettled in the US or Europe. more. contributions to their host nations. Above all, That is a long time, and thus the difficult work we must remember that, in our increasingly ahead lies in making sure the refugees remain But she soon realized what all refugees know: inter-connected world, an investment in their contributing, productive members of society... in the midst of the noise and chaos and future is an investment in ours too. ¢

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