Tennis star Serena Williams appointed new UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

Tennis superstar Serena Williams is the new international Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the agency has announced.

Ms. Williams, 29, will focus in particular on the current Schools for Africa initiative and on the upcoming Schools for Asia programme, said UNICEF who made the announcement at a ceremony during the Social Good Summit in New York September 20, 2011.

In 2006 Ms. Williams visited Ghana with UNICEF where she distributed anti-malaria bed nets, helped demonstrate their use to local communities and joined a team of volunteer health workers as they immunized children against diseases.

UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake in a statement described Ms. Williams as “a champion for children – and a passionate advocate for providing every child with quality education.”

She has won 27 Grand Slam titles – 13 in singles, 12 in women’s doubles and two in mixed doubles – and two Olympic gold medals so far during her career.

Williams joins a famous roster of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, including the soccer star David Beckham, the singer Shakira, the actor Orlando Bloom and the figure skater Yuna Kim.

By Ekow Quandzie