James holds 12-month-old Giorgio at Tibilisi Infants House in Georgia. UNICEF supports several centres for children with disabilities in the country
© UNICEF UK/Georgia 2008/Caroline Irby
James Nesbitt plays football with UNICEF-supported teams in Sudan. UNICEF uses sport to integrate children formerly associated with armed groups back into the community
© UNICEF UK/2007/Georgina Cranston
Brief biography
UNICEF UK Ambassador James Nesbitt was first introduced to UNICEF through his favourite football team, Manchester United, and since then has been an avid supporter of UNICEF’s work worldwide.
James has visted several UNICEF projects to see the work that we do for children. He is a great advocate for children’s rights and has helped to bring vital media attention to important issues facing children such as poverty and conflict.
Earlier this year James recorded a voice over for UNICEF UK's first TV advert. The advert highlights how supporters can help children like 12-year-old Vedaste and his brother Jean Baptiste who need care and support after losing their parents. You can watch UNICEF UK's TV advert here.
In 2008, James Nesbitt travelled to Georgia to see how UNICEF and its partners are working to improve care facilities for children with disabilities. Children are sometimes abandoned because of the stigma surrounding disability or because their parents are no longer able to care for them.
UNICEF is supporting foster families and parents by setting up day care centres, where skilled and caring staff can give children the special attention they need. See the James Nesbitt visits UNICEF projects in Georgia photo gallery and watch James' Soccer Aid video.
In April 2007, James met former child soldiers in southern Sudan. He heard the harrowing stories of children who had been recruited into the armed forces during Sudan’s long-running civil war. James visited UNICEF projects and saw how UNICEF is working to demobilise former soldiers and reintegrate these children back into communities.
In 2006, James travelled to Zambia with UNICEF to film three exclusive reports for ITV News. The reports highlighted the country’s crippling HIV and AIDS pandemic, You can read our report and view the accompanying photo gallery.
James also joined other UNICEF UK Ambassadors to launch The Gift for our Born Free from HIV campaign. You can see James in The Gift launch photo gallery.
In 2005, James visited West Bengal with UNICEF to see our education projects first-hand. James met with children and parents whose lives have been improved by a community-run education programme that has enabled over 1 million children in India to go to school.
James Nesbitt says:
"Meeting these young people I can only marvel at their ability to endure, and their spirit. I feel I’ve come away from Sudan much wiser than when I left home. I don’t just mean I’ve been humbled by what I’ve seen. I’m awestruck by the children and their resilience, and if I can help in any way as an Ambassador for UNICEF, then that is what I should be doing."
