Sanjeev Bhaskar OBE
UNICEF UK Ambassador
“These places are amazing because they get a bit of food and they get to play and some of them learn. These places are vital here.”
Sanjeev visited a Children’s Corner, a UNICEF assisted centre which supports vulnerable children and provides them with learning and play materials. Children’s Corners are play centres outside the school setting for both in and out of school children. They were initially set up to provide psychosocial support to children affected by HIV and AIDS, impact knowledge on HIV, and support them to build resilience. Whilst at the Children’s Corner, Sanjeev spoke to three young boys and heard their stories and experiences of the programme
The Children’s Corner also works to build the capacity of caregivers under a mentorship programme. Sanjeev heard from both a child protection officer and a social worker who helped at the centre to learn more about how UNICEF was supporting the programme.
Whilst in Malawi Sanjeev also saw the work with children out of school in rural Malawi and village health clinics. He met with a UNICEF trained health clinic practitioner and saw him treat children suffering with fevers. Sanjeev also spoke to Maritina, a single mother of six, who was having to provide for all her children on her own. Her children were able to attend weekly a local UNICEF supported Children’s Corner centre where they could learn, play and benefit from nutritious meals.
On my trip to Malawi the dedication of the UNICEF teams and the joy and courage of the kids who I met in the safe space of the Children’s Corner was moving, humbling and inspiring.
Sanjeev Bhaskar, UNICEF UK Ambassador
Sanjeev is always a strong supporter of our emergency appeals and our advocacy campaigns. During the pandemic he amplified the messaging on vaccine equity and encouraged the South Asian diaspora in the UK to get vaccinated. He has also been a keen supporter of our corporate partnerships over the years which has brought in valuable funds for our global programmes. He continues to support our events too. At our annual Gifts in Wills summer garden party, Sanjeev spoke at a Q&A panel alongside Youth Advisory Board members Macey and Tiana, reflecting on their experience working with UNICEF, celebrating the organisation’s work for children worldwide, while thanking attendees for their continued commitment and for leaving a legacy in their will.
About Sanjeev
Sanjeev came to prominence during his work on the BBC comedy series Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No. 42. He also presented and starred in a documentary series called India with Sanjeev Bhaskar in which he travelled to India and visited his ancestral home in today’s Pakistan, and subsequently wrote a book about his experiences. Sanjeev’s more recent acting roles include the leading roles in The Indian Doctor (BBC) and ITV’s Unforgotten. Sanjeev is Chancellor of the University of Sussex.
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