Former journalist Sheikha Rima al-Sabah is the UNHCR’s newest Goodwill Ambassador.
By Erica Moody
Sheikha Rima al-Sabah and Sheikh Salem al-Sabah (Photo by Tony Powell)
Philanthropist Sheikha Rima al-Sabah has been appointed the UN refugee agency’s (UNHCR) latest National Goodwill Ambassador.
A former journalist and the wife of Kuwait Ambassador to the United States Sheikh Salem al-Sabah, Sheikha Rima was formally welcomed into the UN family by Shelly Pitterman, UNHCR’s Regional Representative to the U.S. and the Caribbean.
Pitterman praised the new Ambassador’s commitment to humanitarian issues. Through her philanthropy and fundraising in D.C, Sheikha Rima has raised millions of dollars to fight malaria, build schools and fund hospitals for children. She is also the founder and chairman of the Kuwait-America Foundation’s annual gala dinner.
As the public faces of UNHCR, ambassadors are typically high-profile celebrities, many from Hollywood. Past Goodwill Ambassadors have included Angelina Jolie, Richard Burton and Sophia Loren.
Sheikha Rima al-Sabah will share this title with Alek Wek, Yao Chen, Julien Clerc, George Dalaras, Muazzez Ersoy, Khaled Hosseini, Adel Imam, Osvaldo Laport, Aidos Sagat and Jesus Vazquez.
