UNICEF ambassadors in Europe and Central Asia
Our ambassadors are champions for children across Europe and Central Asia, focusing the attention of policymakers and the public on the rights of children
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Across Europe and Central Asia, UNICEF’s International Goodwill Ambassadors and National Ambassadors support our work to fulfil the rights of each and every child.
Our Ambassadors have varied backgrounds and expertise, but they all have one thing in common: a proven commitment to improve the lives of children. They attract public attention, and channel that attention to the rights and needs of children in their own countries and beyond. They have access to those who make the decisions that affect children’s lives. And all of these champions for children support our efforts to fund-raise and advocate for girls and boys across the region.
Please note: UNICEF National Committees and Country Offices worldwide have their own Ambassadors. For a full list, please see UNICEF’s Ambassadors page.
Armenia | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Croatia | Georgia | Greece | Kazakhstan | Romania | Serbia | Tajikistan | Türkiye
Armenia
Maléna
Maléna is the winner of the "Junior Eurovision 2021" song contest, thanks to her Yerevan hosted “Junior Eurovision” song contest on December 11, 2022. During the show she talked about her work with UNICEF and wished UNICEF a happy birthday.
Maléna is inspired by Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg. "Our voice must be heard and taken into account in the decisions that affect us,” explains Maléna and she uses every opportunities she's given to inspire young people to speak out for climate change issues and contribute to solving those issues. She was appointed as a UNICEF Armenia Ambassador in December 2022.
Sergey Smbatyan
Sergey Smbatyan is the Founding Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Smbatyan has an accomplished international career, and with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, he has championed Armenian cultural heritage and contemporary music with festivals, including Khachaturian International Festival, Armenian Composing Art Festival, “Contemporary Classics” Composers’ Festival and “Armenia” International Music Festival. Maestro Smbatyan is an active advocate for cultural education. In 2022, Maestro and UNICEF, in collaboration with the Public Television of Armenia, developed a special parenting master class on the influence and importance of music on children’s development.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Edin Džeko
Footballer Edin Džeko plays for Italian club Roma and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. Appointed as a National Ambassador in 2009, Edin has participated in UNICEF campaigns to support early childhood development, as well as children with disabilities and those without parental care.
Bulgaria
Elena Petrova
Elena Petrova who has been UNICEF National ambassador since May 2020. The popular and beloved Bulgarian actress has endorsed the causes of the United Nations Children's Fund multiple times through the years. Elena has been especially active in her support for the children with disabilities. As she shared herself:
"The invitation to be a UNICEF ambassador was an honor and responsibility to me. It's not merely a cause, but a battle for providing a better and normal way of life in which these children and parents will not feel isolated and alone. To be an ambassador, to me, is a message of hope and life. One good turn deserves another!"
Poli Genova
Poli Genova is a singer and one of the most beloved artists on the Bulgarian music scene and mother of two. She has been supporting the work of UNICEF in Bulgaria for years and has repeatedly participated in the organization's charity initiatives, concerts and advocacy campaigns.
"I accept the role of UNICEF National Ambassador with great honor and I believe that together we will achieve real change in lives of the children of Bulgaria!"
Poli Genova also supported UNICEF’s campaign for parents of young children as one of the faces of another free application - Bebbo, which was created by UNICEF in order to support parents of young children up to seven-years-old.
Croatia
Maja Vučić
Singer Maja Vučić became a Special Representative for Parents and Babies and National Ambassador in November 2006. Maja promotes early childhood development and has supported UNICEF’s work in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Rwanda, as well as refugee and migrant children in Croatia.
Bojana Gregorić Vejzović
This award-winning Croatian actress became a UNICEF National Ambassador in August 2004. Bojana’s support for children’s rights includes a special focus on children without parental care. As well as raising funds for UNICEF, she promotes the ideals that guide our work.
Zlatan Stipišić Gibonni
Zlatan became the first UNICEF Ambassador in Croatia in July 2003. The well-known singer works to end violence and discrimination against children, helps to raise funds for UNICEF, and reaches young people with UNICEF’s messages.
Slaven Bilić
Slaven Bilić, Manager of West Ham United football club, became a National Ambassador in February 2008. He spearheaded Croatia’s ‘Break the Chain’ campaign against cyberbullying, and has focused on ending violence against children, as well as the promotion of child-friendly cities.
Mirna Medaković Stepinac
Mirna Medaković Stepinac was appointed Ambassador for Early Childhood Development in December 2018. She has been an active and public supporter of UNICEF’s work on the promotion of child participation and the development of reading skills and early childhood education since 2013. As a mother of two daughters, she supports the promotion of breastfeeding and the right of every child to a warm family home.
Georgia
Nikoloz Rachveli
Nikoloz Rachveli is a famous Georgian composer, a conductor and artistic director of the Georgian National Philharmonic Orchestra. Nikoloz Rachveli became UNICEF’s National Ambassador in 2017 and worked with a special focus on advocating for the rights of children with disabilities, ending violence against children and promoting child rights. The National Philharmonic Orchestra also became UNICEF’s supporter.
Irma Khetsuriani
Irma Khetsuriani is a wheelchair fencer and one of the most prominent Para athletes of Georgia. She is the first wheelchair fencer in Georgia. She won the world championship in October 2015, which was held in France, and again in 2017 in Rome, and in 2018 in Warsaw, Poland. She won silver in the sabre B discipline in the world championships held in Eger, Hungary, in 2015.
Off the piste, she also has an important role in Para sport which has included taking part in a Persons With Disabilities Day in 2013. In addition she is an advocate of improving the lives of people with a disabilities.
Greece
Helena Paparizou
The Greek and internationally recognized singer, Helena Paparizou, joined UNICEF’s family as the first National Goodwill Ambassador for Greece in November 2021.
With a special focus on awareness raising and sensitization on issues related to mental health for children and youth, her work with the organization contributes to raising awareness and informing the public about UNICEF’s work in the country as well as the organization’s work in global emergencies and calls to action. She has also supported the national campaign to promote Foster Care as an alternative child-care model.
George Perris
George Perris is an internationally renowned, Greek-French tenor singer. He was appointed as UNICEF’s National Goodwill Ambassador for Greece in June 2022.
UNICEF and George Perris’ work focused on combating violence against children, one of the key priorities of UNICEF Greece Country Office and one of the most critical issues that threaten the safety, physical and mental health as well as the well-being of children and young people in Greece and around the world. George was also one of the main campaign Ambassadors promoting Foster Care in Greece as part of the EU Child Guarantee pilot programme implemented by the Greek state in collaboration with UNICEF.
Antonis Tsapatakis
Antonis Tsapatakis is a Greek Paralympic swimmer and the third-appointed National Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF in Greece. His work focuses on promoting the inclusion, well-being and progress of children and young people with disabilities in the country. He was recently the campaign Ambassador for UNICEF’s first private sector collaboration with LIDL Hellas, promoting awareness raising and engagement against all form of violence, including cyber bullying.
Kazakhstan
Dinara Saduakassova
A four time world chess champion, Dinara became the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in November 2017. She advocates for the rights of the most vulnerable children in Kazakhstan. Dinara supports the UNICEF campaign to prevent violence against children: she attends meetings with influential figures, talks about preventing violence on social networks, calls for the need to urgently address violence against children.
Alem
Alem, a member of “NINETY ONE” the most popular musical group in Kazakhstan became the UNICEF National Ambassador in Kazakhstan in 2023. As a UNICEF National Ambassador, Alem supports UNICEF activities in Kazakhstan in areas such as health, nutrition, education, skills development and child protection, with a particular focus on campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and child internet safety.
Ace
Ace, a member of “NINETY ONE” the most popular musical group in Kazakhstan, became the UNICEF National Ambassador in Kazakhstan in 2023. As a UNICEF National Ambassador, Ace supports UNICEF activities in Kazakhstan in areas such as health, nutrition, education, skills development and child protection, with a particular focus on campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and child internet safety.
ZaQ
ZaQ, a member of “NINETY ONE” the most popular musical group in Kazakhstan, became the UNICEF National Ambassador in Kazakhstan in 2023. As a UNICEF National Ambassador, ZaQ supports UNICEF activities in Kazakhstan in areas such as health, nutrition, education, skills development and child protection, with a particular focus on campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and child internet safety.
Bala
Bala, a member of “NINETY ONE” the most popular musical group in Kazakhstan, became the UNICEF National Ambassador in Kazakhstan in 2023. As a UNICEF National Ambassador, Bala supports UNICEF activities in Kazakhstan in areas such as health, nutrition, education, skills development and child protection, with a particular focus on campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and child internet safety.
Romania
Andreea Marin
TV presenter, producer, journalist, author and editor, Andreea Marin has been a voice for children in Romania as a National Ambassador since 2006. Andreea has championed children’s rights, including improving access to immunization and preventing family separation in numerous telethons, campaigns and other public events.
Gheorghe Hagi
World Cup All-Star Team football player Gheorghe Hagi became a National Ambassador in September 2008. He has been particularly active since his appointment on supporting UNICEF’s work to promote access to education for every child, including a successful campaign to prevent school dropout.
Andrei Tiberiu Maria (Smiley)
TV presenter and pop star Smiley has been a National Ambassador since November 2013. His support for many social causes has included his involvement in UNICEF’s #endviolence campaign in Romania. Focusing on the most vulnerable children, he urges his fans to support children’s rights.
Serbia
Aleksandar Sasa Djordjevic
Aleksandar Sasa Djordjevic became a National Ambassador for Serbia in 2005. As an international basketball star and head coach of the Serbian national team, Aleksandar supports UNICEF’s fundraising and programmes, particularly on the prevention of violence against children.
Ana Ivanovic
Retired tennis champion Ana Ivanovic became a National Ambassador in 2007. She supports UNICEF’s fundraising and programmes, and promotes UNICEF’s values and ideals. She has been particularly active on the prevention of violence against children at school and online.
Tajikistan
Safarmuhammad Kodiri
Safarmuhammad was appointed National Ambassador in Tajikistan in 2024. He is a talented singer and musician. His personal commitment have made him a positive role model for Tajik youth.
Mr. Safarmuhammad first engaged with UNICEF in 2020 during the outbreak of COVID-19 and joined the #SafeHandsChallenge to help spread safety messages through his social media platforms. In 2021, he participated in UNICEF's Special Influencer Project and in 2022, helped raise the profile of UNICEF events such as the UPSHIFT Forum, National Volunteers Forum, and many others. In 2023, he participated in a youth-led dialogue at the National Library of Tajikistan to discuss mental health with experts, government representatives and more than 50 young people.
Türkiye
Gülsin Onay
The renowned pianist Gülsin Onay is the longest serving National Ambassador for UNICEF in Türkiye, appointed in 2003. She is actively involved in UNICEF’s fundraising activities and advocates to protect the rights of all children.
Ayşe Kulin
This well-known short-story writer, screenwriter and novelist became a National Ambassador for UNCEF in 2007. She promotes UNICEF's core values and takes an active role in fundraising activities.
Müjdat Gezen
Müjdat, a stage actor, publisher, writer and founder of both a theatre company and television school, became a National Ambassador in 2007. He promotes UNICEF's core values and takes an active role in fundraising activities.
Bilkent Senfoni Orkestrası
This major symphony orchestra was appointed as a National Ambassador for UNICEF in 2009 in recognition of its efforts on behalf of children. The orchestra raised funds for victims of the İzmit earthquake in 1999 and the Pakistan earthquake in 2005, and has supported UNICEF’s campaign to improve girls’ access to education.
Türkan Şoray
This icon of Turkish cinematography holds the record for starring in more feature films than any other leading actress in Türkiye. Türkan was appointed a National Ambassador in 2010. She is passionate about UNICEF's mandate and enjoys being involved in fundraising activities.
Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ
Kıvanç, actor, model and former basketball player, became a National Ambassador in 2011. He has been involved in campaigns on child rights, on promoting positive attitude change towards children with disabilities and on the importance of education for children affected by emergencies.
Ferhat Göçer
Musician and surgeon, Ferhat is well-know for combining classical and modern music. He became a National Ambassador in 2012 and is actively involved in UNICEF’s fundraising activities, as well as advocating for UNICEF’s core values and mandate.
Şefika Kutluer
Şefika, classical flautist with the İzmir State Symphony Orchestra, became a National Ambassador in 2012. Her international performances have included a concert at the Palais des Nations in Geneva to mark the 60th anniversary of the United Nations.
Tuba Büyüküstün
Tuba, a well-known actress, became a National Ambassador in 2014. She focuses on child protection for the most vulnerable children, particularly the rights of refugee and migrant children.
Cedi Osman
Cedi is a Turkish professional basketball player currently for the Turkish National Team and Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). In his role as a UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador, Cedi Osman will focus on youth engagement and sports.