Albanian singer Alban Skënderaj has been selected by UNICEF as the First National Ambassador for Children in Albania.

The announcement was made on the eve of World Children’s Day, which is celebrated every year on November 20 and this year also coincides with the 35th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This selection comes after many field visits with UNICEF where he personally observed the challenges faced by Albanian children.

During his welcoming speech, Alban Skënderaj said:

“I was only 15 years old when I left for a better life in Italy. The boat, which was only for eight people, was overcrowded with 450 asylum seekers. But now I’m back to my place where I found success and reconnected with my roots. Now, I am taking on this new role as a UNICEF National Ambassador.  My biggest responsibility will be to bring children’s voices into the discussions that affect them. After my field visits, it is clear to me that we must work more for every child in the country, I was filled with hope from the projects supported by UNICEF in Albania”, said Alban Skënderaj.

“UNICEF is very pleased to welcome Albani as our First National Ambassador. It is very true that we need more friends like Alban Skënderaj, who will help us raise awareness of children’s rights issues, including the advancement of every child’s right to quality development and education from early childhood. Together with Albania, we feel stronger, in building a European and promising future for Albanian children, despite the challenges”, explained UNICEF representative Murat Sahin.