Yusra Mardi, the Syrian girl who competed at the Rio Olympics swimming competition as a member of the first ever refugee team in Olympics has been appointed as the youngest Good will ambassador by UNHCR .
From surviving her ordeal of escaping Syria with her elder sister and swimming for their lives across the Mediterranean Sea to sharing a pool with the likes of Olympic champion Michael Phelps, Yusra Mardini has become an extraordinary and inspiring voice for refugees around the world since her selection for last summer’s Olympic Games.
Taking on the role at a time when over 65 million people across the globe have been driven from their homes by war and persecution, the Syrian swimmer said she was proud of and honoured by this appointment, which, at 19 years-old, makes her the youngest of Ambassadors.
Mardini said in her new role she wanted to show people that refugees are actually humans and normal people also, who can do a lot of things like them.
