NEW YORK and TORONTO: Children and young people from around the world were joining UNICEF Canada Ambassador Simu Liu and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Ishmael Beah, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, Millie Bobby Brown and Priyanka Chopra Jonas for virtual conversations in celebration of World Children’s Day.
In the week leading up to National Child Day in Canada and World Children’s Day on 20th November – a day of action for children, by children – the high-profile supporters will share conversations with young people from around the world about issues that matter to them, including the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health, climate change and education, and how they would reimagine a better future.
“2020 has been challenging, so this World Children’s Day it’s more important than ever for young people to speak out on the issues that affect them,” said UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Millie Bobby Brown.
“All around the world, children and young people are coming up with creative solutions to today’s problems, including climate change and remote learning during the pandemic. I’m excited to join other UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors to use our voices to help lift up theirs.”
The series kicked off on 13 November until 20 November with:
• UNICEF Canada Ambassador Simu Liu hosts an Instagram Live with 16-year-old Youth Advocate Saara Chaudry on 20 November. They will discuss UNICEF Canada’s Stay In to Speak Out sessions on education, mental health, Indigenous sovereignty, climate change, democracy and systemic racism, and how to reimagine the future of Canada ahead of the virtual Youth Activism Summit.
• UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Founder of the 7 Fund, David Beckham will speak with 18-year-old Sebabatso from South Africa on issues including science, gender equality and human rights.
• UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and actor Orlando Bloom will speak with 11-year old Maria about how she is taking action to protect the environment in her home country, Barbados.
• UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and author Ishmael Beah will speak with 14-year-old Lunjok about advocating with other children for a clean environment in her home country, South Sudan.
• UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas will speak with 16-year-old Aditya from India about his campaign against single-use plastics and his goal of eliminating 50,000 plastic straws in India…
• UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and actor Millie Bobby Brown will speak with 17-year-old Emmanuel from Tanzania; 17-year-old Aibanu from Kazakhstan and 14-year-old Gitanjali from the United States. UNICEF National Ambassadors and Supporters Halima Aden, Gemma Chan, Liam Payne, and Alejandro Sanz will also participate in conversations with children and young people from Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Montenegro, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Yemen.