Wednesday January 12, 2022

Kbora takes on UNICEF role

Schools

Adelaide’s Kbora Ali has added to her list of achievements, being recently named as a UNICEF Australia Young Ambassador for 2022.

Lindy McNamara

Wednesday January 12, 2022

Wednesday January 12, 2022 Comments

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The 12 ambassadors chosen have been recruited from across Australia and will be trained in leadership, government advocacy, media and communications, and engagement with children and young people.

A member of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College’s Class of 2015, Kbora said she joined the Young Ambassador program because she could never forget the generosity of people who donated school supplies for her when she was a young girl.

“These were from organisations such as UNICEF and they were a symbol of hope that people cared and knew we existed,” she said. “Being honoured as a Young Ambassador means I can pay it forward because children never forget kindness and generosity.”

Born in Afghanistan, Kbora, 24, came to Australia in 2007 with her mother and six siblings, after her father had successfully secured a family visa for them to join him. He had arrived some years earlier after fleeing the Taliban, making his way to Indonesia and then travelling by boat to Australia.

In 2016, Kbora made headlines when she became the first Afghan woman to join the Australian Army.

Returning to Adelaide that year to address a special assembly at her old school, Kbora said she had wanted to join the Army because “coming to Australia as a refugee and being accepted as a citizen was beyond a blessing for my family and myself”.

“I wanted to live every day with purpose and to give something back to Australia,” she said. “Now I wake up every day to serve the nation.”

By taking on the UNICEF role, Kbora said she wants to draw attention to the mental health struggles facing young Australians.

“More than ever the young people are faced with challenges that are beyond their control while also juggling with the daily demands of life,” she said.

“We need to continue to speak up, put more effort in creating safe classrooms, schools and workplaces so children and young people can feel safe to reach out for help.”