UNICEF Tanzania announced on September 21, 2026 the appointment of singer, songwriter and youth advocate Abigail Chams as its new National Ambassador. The announcement was made at the UNICEF Tanzania office in Dar es Salaam during the organisation’s annual Girls Take Over initiative, held ahead of the International Day of the Girl, where Kuruthum Massiro from Mwanza Region stepped into the role of UNICEF Representative for the day and met Chams as part of the programme.
The appointment builds on Chams’ earlier work with UNICEF as a Youth Advocate, where she promoted girls’ rights and mental well-being. As National Ambassador, she will now use her platform to support advocacy on mental health, child protection, ending violence against children and adolescent empowerment. UNICEF Tanzania Representative Elke Wisch said Chams brings her own experience, creativity and influence as an advocate for young people, and that the organisation hopes her example will inspire more girls to see themselves as leaders.
The role carries particular weight given Chams’ own history. Now 23, she has spoken openly about living with anxiety, and previously said that people rarely talk about mental health in Tanzania despite suicide being the fourth leading cause of death among young people there. That experience led her to launch The Talk, a mental health initiative connecting with her fanbase. Alongside her new ambassador role, she and UNICEF are launching a campaign called Hauko Solo, meaning You Are Not Alone, encouraging young people to speak openly about their feelings and seek help through the 116 Child Helpline, following her recent visits to the C-Sema Child Helpline centre. Chams said the appointment was especially meaningful coming during International Day of the Girl Child celebrations, and that she would continue advocating for girls’ rights and efforts to end child marriage.
