US actress’ plea on Africa’s children

UNICEF goodwill ambassador Priyanka Chopra concluded a four-day trip to Zimbabwe and South Africa at the weekend, where she met with victims of child abuse and sexual violence.

The Hollywood actress‚ who stars alongside local export Pearl Thusi in hit US show Quantico‚ has appealed to the media to highlight the plight of children in Africa.

“We need to care more. It is on us. It is not on their parents who don’t have the money to send them to school or give them food or may not be alive.

“It is on us‚ as a society‚ to reach out to make sure that they get a lot more than what they are getting‚” she said in Rosebank.

Chopra had just returned from visiting “safe parks” in Soweto‚ an initiative by Unicef where children who have been victims of abuse are given the opportunity to interact with counsellors and with other children.

Chopra on Saturday hosted a Unicef gala dinner which raised R600 000 towards the organisation’s work for children in South Africa.

Wearing bleached jeans‚ a black Unicef T-shirt and black blazer‚ the former Miss World said she was raised in a home where giving back was an integral part of her childhood.

Her parents‚ who were both doctors‚ would visit a small local village to provide treatment to locals who could not afford it or had no access.

Chopra shares a birthday with Nelson Mandela and says that Madiba has been influential in her life because of the man he was and what he stood for.

“Both these great men (Madiba and Mahatma Gandhi) stood for the rights of children.

“Both these great men talked about how children were the foundation of our society and our society will never get better if we ignore our children.”