By Ibarra C. Mateo
Child actress Xia Vigor is the first child ambassador of the Save the Children Philippines, it was announced on Thursday / Dec. 12, 2019.
Save the Children Philippines said Vigor will help the organization “promote children’s rights to grow up healthy, educated, and protected from all harm.”
Vigor, 10, who stars in the movie “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” an entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), said she is “determined to bring positive change for every child.”
She aims to inspire children, especially those in marginalized situations, and hope ot inspire them “to never give up their dreams.”
To mark her designation, Vigor led a feeding program for children in a community in Navotas City.
The organization implements Project Nurture (Nutrition among Urban Poor Through Unified Response) in select communities in Navotas to reduce the number of deaths of children under 5 years old. The project involves a nutrition-specific intervention on children, focusing on their first 1,000 days of life.
“Whenever I meet other children, I always tell them to work hard to attain their dreams. I hope I can help them make those dreams become a reality with my new role as a Save the Children child ambassador,” Vigor said.
Vigor said she understood the “importance of sharing her blessings” at the age of 6 when she started joining her mother in outreach activities in the Mindoro provinces. They distributed slippers and school supplies to children of Mangyan families.
She said the sight of young children going to school barefoot and without school supplies has “moved” her.
Vigor is also active in campaigning for environmental protection and has joined tree-planting and coastal clean-up activities.
Lawyer Alberto Muyot, chief executive officer of Save the Children Philippines, said Vigor fits the role of a child ambassador because “she is very smart, articulate, and has the empathy toward children living in deprived situations.”
“Children around the world are speaking up for their rights, and Save the Children supports the realization of their right to be listened to, by providing a platform so they can speak up on matters that affect them,” Muyot said.
Vigor will be active in the organization’s campaigns on ending all forms of violence against children happening in homes, schools, and community settings.
Vigor will take part in fundraising activities during humanitarian response to help Save the Children bring life-saving emergency kits to children and their families affected by natural calamities, disasters, armed conflicts, and other emergencies.
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