Sarah-Jane Clarke announced as ambassador

28 April 2010

sass & bide co-founder joins Australia for UNHCR to raise awareness of refugee mother and child health needs and other global refugee relief efforts

Australia for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency's charity in Australia, today announced that noted co-founder of sass & bide, Sarah-Jane Clarke, had come on board as an ambassador to help raise awareness of the plight of refugees around the world.

Sarah-Jane Clarke commences her role in support of the charity's Safe Mother & Baby Appeal, which is raising funds to send hygienic baby delivery packs to refugees in some of the world's poorest countries including Chad, Nepal, Bangladesh and Somalia in an effort to reduce high maternal and infant mortality rates.

Coinciding with Mother's Day, these special lifesaving gift packages can be purchased for $26 for a pack of 10, to be sent on behalf of Australian mothers at www.worldsbiggestpackage.com.

The Safe Mother & Baby appeal will be officially launched at the annual Australia for UNHCR Mother's Day Lunch, which is being held at Sydney's Ivy Ballroom on Friday, 7th May, and is being attended by special guests, Sarah-Jane Clarke, and Julie McCrossin as MC.

Commenting on her support of the charity, Sarah-Jane said, "Like any mother, a campaign like the Safe Mother & Baby Appeal is close to my heart. Knowing that $2.70 is the difference between life and death for a mother and her child makes this an extremely important message to send. A safe and healthy birth is a basic human right, and this kit will make that possible for refugee women around the world.

"Australia for UNHCR is an inspiring organisation that I strongly believe in and feel honoured to be an Ambassador for," she said.

National Director of Australia for UNHCR, Naomi Steer, said, "We're delighted to have SarahJane on board. Her passion for the issues will help make a real difference to raise awareness and funds to help refugees across the globe, 80% of whom are women and children."

Ms Steer recently returned from a charity trek up Mt Kenya and visit to Nakivale refugee camp in Uganda.

"My visit to Nakivale once again brought home the issues facing female refugees in the world's poorest countries, where maternal and infant mortality is 155 times higher than in Australia. While I was encouraged to see the amazing difference that funding from Australia for UNHCR has made, the trip has also made me very aware of how much work remains to be done.

"The Safe Mother & Baby Appeal will go a long way towards improving the lives of refugee women and children around the globe, so I really hope that our Australian supporters dig deep," she said.

About Australia for UNHCR

Australia for UNHCR was established in 2000 as part of UNHCR's global fundraising network. Its mission is to provide life changing humanitarian support to refugees and other displaced and stateless people who come under the care and protection of the UN Refugee Agency.

More than 42 million people are forcibly uprooted by conflict and persecution worldwide with 80 per cent of these being women and children. Globally, UNHCR provides and coordinates international relief for these people, offering them protection and assistance at every stage of their ordeal.

As well as providing emergency shelter, food, water and medical care, UNHCR strives to improve refugees' quality of life and future opportunities, providing infrastructure, schools and income generating projects in established refugee camps and communities.

About the Safe Mother & Baby appeal: the issues:

• Globally, an estimated 529,000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth from preventable causes every year
• One in 12 Somali mothers will die in childbirth in their lifetime
• Only 9% of all births in Somalia are attended by skilled health personnel A woman in Somalia is 155 times more likely to die in childbirth than a woman in Australia.

View the Media Release