MINNEOLA, Florida — Kat Graham is an actress, singer and dancer born in 1989 in Geneva, Switzerland. Graham is popularly known for her role in “The Vampire Diaries” series. She has also made a name for herself outside the entertainment industry, in the areas of philanthropy and humanitarianism. Graham’s most notable humanitarian accomplishment is her appointment as the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency)
As of mid-2020, there were 80 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, with 26.3 million of them being refugees. About 4.2 million are asylum seekers and 30-34 million are children. UNHCR’s mission is to assist and protect the millions of displaced people around the world. UNHCR provides assistance in 135 countries in the form of legal services, administrative support, health initiatives and more.
UNHCR Appointment
Kat Graham was announced as Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR in December 2020. According to Graham’s bio on the UNHCR website, she started working with the UNHCR in 2013 as a high-profile supporter. In this capacity, Graham supported key UNHCR events such as World Refugee Day and the iBelong Campaign to End Statelessness. In her humanitarian work, she brings awareness to the suffering of refugees globally.
Kat Graham has certainly earned her position as the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. Graham is passionate about her refugee humanitarian work and has had her feet on the frontlines for years. In 2014, Graham traveled with the UNHCR to a Syrian refugee camp of Za’atari in Jordan, and later in 2015, to the Mexico-Guatemala border to meet women and children who fled conflict and violence in Central America.
Through Her Eyes
By personally visiting refugee camps across the world, Graham is able to witness the plight of refugees first-hand. She also bears witness to UNHCR’s work, empowering vulnerable people with the skills and resources to construct better futures for themselves and their families.
Following her appointment, Graham stated, “I’m grateful for this opportunity to continue to shine a light on untold stories of refugees.” Graham strongly believes that the most important work is the work a person does to help others. In all her humanitarian work, she commits to protecting and supporting displaced persons around the world.
Using Her Platform
Graham uses her social platforms to raise awareness about the plight of refugees and the work UNHCR does to help them. On The Drew Barrymore Show, Graham spoke on the importance of awareness. She explains how the number of displaced persons has doubled from the year 2010 to 80 million in 2020. As COVID-19 continues, Graham also uses her platform to especially highlight the specific difficulties that refugees face during the pandemic.
Graham’s appointment as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador has come at a crucial time. Refugees all over the world are even more vulnerable with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Graham uses her celebrity platform as an inspiring way of committing to humanitarian causes and addressing global issues of poverty.
– Thomas Williams
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