Leanne Manas makes a difference beyond the television studio
From news anchor to being appointed as the United Nations Refugee (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador for South Africa, Leanne Manas is making a difference to the lives of others.
Listen to the interview here or read the details below:
Leanne Manas is well-known for waking up South Africans on 'Morning Live' as a news anchor.
However, there is so much more to Manas than just being a television personality.
Her involvement with the UNHCR since mid-2017 is just one more facet to this extraordinary woman.
“I am incredibly thrilled to be appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR,” Manas said. “Since my involvement with the LuQuLuQu campaign, I have had the honour and privilege to meet resilient and courageous people who have escaped war and persecution in search of safety. Listening to their stories, I am more compelled than ever to advocate for their cause."
According to a press release, Manas visited forcibly displaced communities in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya and Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi. Whilst there, she reported live from the camp to South African audiences, raising awareness and support for the cause.
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UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, was established on 14 December 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCR safeguards the rights and well-being of refugees and stateless people. In more than six decades, the agency has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives.
The agency is on the front lines of the world’s major humanitarian crises, including Syria, Iraq, Central African Republic, Afghanistan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar-Bangladesh, and countless other emergencies.
Mr Leonard Zulu, UNHCR Deputy Regional Representative for the Southern African region, says Manas has shown exemplary dedication in her work with the organisation,
"Using her platform and network, she has helped draw awareness to refugee situations in Sub-Saharan Africa – operations that are grossly underfunded and in need of greater resources. Her commitment to people forced to flee their homes has a significant impact on UNHCR South Africa’s work in the country," he said.