Jessie Ware
Unicef UK Ambassador since 2014
“I met a woman called Hasina. She told me about her experience and what she has seen. It broke me.”
In 2017, Jessie visited Bangladesh, where she met with Rohingya families who have fled from horrific violence in Myanmar. Among them was Hasina, who Jessie spoke to her about her experiences.
“She’d watched her husband and two of her children being killed in front of her.” said Jessie, “Her little girl was two-and-a-half, but looked smaller than my 15-month-old”. Hasina was able to pick up her surviving children and run. After a month they arrived in the refugee camp in Bangladesh, where they have been since.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya children like Hasina’s are now living in overwhelmed camps like the one Jessie visited. You can see a video diary of her experience below.
We just went to the safe space and they were spirited and animated and showing me all their toys and smiling, but I can’t imagine what kind of traumas they’ve been through.
Child Friendly Spaces
Jessie visited one of the many child friendly spaces that Unicef has set up for Rohingya children. These are safe havens where children can go to learn and play and begin to continue their normal development.
Many of these children have witnessed horrific violence and lost family members. These spaces play a vital role in providing them with the psychosocial support they need to begin their recovery.
Unicef is also working hard on the ground to provide life-saving food to malnourished children, as well as vaccinations and clean drinking water. These are vital in preventing the spread of deadly diseases which can spread quickly in crowded conditions.
"I won’t forget these stories.
I will tell these stories to people, and people need to spread the word"
Jessie Ware
JOIN JESSIE AND HELP US REACH MORE ROHINGYA CHILDREN
£74 could help pay for school supplies to help at least 20 children continue their education in an emergency.
£58 can provide an emergency water and hygiene kit for two families in an emergency.
£23 could provide a child with ready to use therapeutic food for a month in an emergency.
Jessie’ time with Unicef
Jessie has been working with us since 2014, taking a particular interest in the challenges of refugees and migrants.
2017 – Jessie visits Rohingya families at Kutupalong refugee camp, Bangladesh.
2016 – Jessie visits FYR Macedonia and saw the work that Unicef were doing to support refugees in their dangerous journey to Europe.
2015 – Jessie performs at Unicef’s annual Halloween ball, helping to raise more than £1.6 million for the children on Syria.
2015 – Jessie visits Gado refugee camp in Cameroon where she met children who had fled from violence in the neighbouring Central African Republic.
