Lower Belford teenager Sophie Nichols will help promote the plight of asylum seekers and issues with detention centres as a UNICEF Australia young ambassador.
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Sophie, 17, was selected to take part in the program last month when she attended a child rights advocacy program in Sydney.
“Until I went through the program I wasn’t that aware,” she said.
“But mum has always encouraged me to think outside of what’s happening in our country town.”
As part of the program Sophie and nine others aged 15 to 24 will conduct interviews and share stories via social media as part of a communications team.
The St Catherine’s Catholic College, Singleton, student said young voices had been missing from the national debate.
“I hope to raise awareness of children’s rights in my community and the greater society, so that they know that children have rights and they should never be ignored,” she said.
Sophie was selected from more than 250 applicants to join UNICEF Australia’s youth program.
UNICEF Australia young ambassadors met with representatives from the Australian Human Rights Commission national children’s commissioner Megan Mitchell and Close the Gap secretariat Andrew Gargett.
Sophie said she had learned a lot about how UNICEF used social media and how social media could be used as an advocacy tool, particularly in rural Australia.
“Social media is a really great tool for Australians because there is such a wide area that you cannot always get to certain places,” she said.
“Through social media and traditional media we can reach outwards and raise awareness.”
