SEATTLE — Singer, songwriter and Goodwill Ambassador Katy Perry visited Vietnam for UNICEF earlier this summer. Following the trip, she called for an increased focus on alleviating child poverty.
Katy Perry, named a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in 2013, recently visited the rural Vietnam province Ninh Thuan. This remote province is one of the poorest in the region. Perry visited schools for disabled children, as well as a high school containing students of ethnic minorities. After her trip, she said that she is determined to focus on the critical poverty issues millions of these children deal with each day.
Perry was potentially influenced to become a Goodwill Ambassador by her significant other, Orlando Bloom. Bloom, who was named a Goodwill Ambassador in 2009, recently visited Ukraine.
Goodwill Ambassadors, depending on their profiles as celebrities and their preferred levels of responsibility, volunteer all over the world. Katy Perry’s visit to Vietnam and advocacy for the cause against poverty is incredibly beneficial. She brings both media attention and the attention of her fans and followers, widening UNICEF’s audience and directing aid towards those who really need it.
UNICEF advocates for the rights and wellbeing of children in 190 countries. In Vietnam, UNICEF works with the government and its partners to support children in poverty. Some of these children are of ethnic minorities, which accounts for 15 percent of the total population of Vietnam. Others live with a low-income family, have a disability or are subject to abuse.
Many of the children had nutrient deficiencies due to food scarcity in the region. In addition, climate change makes it difficult for families to gain access to clean water and sanitation, which has led to malnutrition and disease. Consequently, UNICEF volunteers are working to alleviate the incomplete diets and hygienic needs of native children.
After witnessing first-hand how these children live their everyday lives, Perry decided to fight for them. “Investing in the most disadvantaged to give them a fair chance in life is not only the right thing to do, it is the best way to break the cycle of poverty and drastically improve children’s health, education and well-being,” she stated.
The UNICEF programs within the Ninh Thuan Province are working towards upholding this resolution. These programs work towards ending the exclusion of children with disabilities. In addition, UNICEF focuses on securing child survival, education and development. They also highlight the importance of providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene.
UNICEF notes that Vietnam is a state with a fast growing economy and has transformed into a lower middle-income country. Although trade and development are important, it is crucial to remember that economic trade cannot replace the investments needed for children living in poverty in rural regions. There are regions in Vietnam where 20 percent of children do not have an education and 50 percent do not receive adequate health care.
Advocacy from Katy Perry has increased media coverage of the area, so more of the world has learned of the issues facing Vietnam. With this additional publicity, UNICEF hopes to raise more funds to further improve the lives of children in Vietnam.
– Kimber Kraus
Photo: Flickr