Clay Aiken Extends Goodwill To Afghanistan

Clay Aiken has found his niche as a Goodwill Ambassador for The United Nations Children’s Fund. Aiken spent the Easter holiday in Afghanistan in an effort to gain first-hand knowledge of specific needs in that region, check on the contributions that UNICEF is making, and to lend a helping hand. Aiken added a slightly different twist by inviting his former high school history teacher, Mary Props, to travel with him. Also part of their group was Catherine Mbengue, a UNICEF country representative for Afghanistan.

The role of Props was to broaden the audience that Aiken reaches as an Ambassador, whose main focus is on the UNICEF educational programs. Being a teacher himself, prior to American Idol, Aiken is passionate about education. In addition to his focus on the needs of Afghan children, Aiken would like to increase the desire for American students to learn about issues that are facing our world outside of our own country. Rather than just come home with another celebrity’s accounting of charitable works done abroad, Aiken wanted a professional educator’s insight and platform to increase awareness for American students, as well.

“…we met a number of young women who have an amazing positive outlook on their future now in post conflict Afghanistan and it really provides a backdrop of hope, there’s an amazing sense of hope and promise not only in the country but in the young people here too.”

Although Aiken and his former history teacher have now headed back to the states, he was pleased by UNICEF’s efforts, the positive advancements made thus far, and was confident that he was leaving Afghanistan, and its people, in good hands.

“…there’s an amazing number of [national] staff from right here in Afghanistan who are working with UNICEF to make sure the children of this country are given every opportunity to survive – be that through education, through health and nutrition, through sanitation and water access. There’s a lot of work going on here by UNICEF through not just the people who have come from outside Afghanistan, but also lots of Afghans too.”

Source: This story was submitted by Twilight Dreamer from NeutralZone and you can check out the full story by clicking here.