A close-up shot with Yusra Mardini, Goodwill Ambassador of UNHCR

8/28-9/1/2017

LIFE14 took a close-up shot of the swimmer Yusra Mardini, a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations UNHCR, as an official photography team during her visit to Japan.

19 years old Yusra Mardini, the Goodwill Ambassador who came to Japan. Because of the civil war, she escaped from her home country of Syria. While becoming a refugee, she fulfilled her dream and was active as a member of the first refugee team in history at Rio Olympics. She is currently working worldwide as a Goodwill Ambassador for the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), also known as Angelina Jolie's Special Envoy.

On this visit to Japan, the United Nations UNHCR Association appointed LIFE.14 as an official photographers.

I was very happy to have been recognized for my many international event official shoots and the achievements of the Japan Refugee Support Association's pro bono activities, and I took on the challenge with a firm feeling.

Over the five days, she came to Japan, Yusra visited ministers and members of parliament, including Minister of State Suzuki, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, Former Prime Minister Mori, and Foreign Minister Kono. She talked about her experience as a refugee and the refugee’s situation in the world. What was particularly impressive was the words, "That person may now be called a refugees, but in Syria she is an engineer or a doctor."

You can read the detailed interview article from the following URL.

Please read it.

Interview with Yusra Mardini in Japan

https://www.japanforunhcr.org/archives/yusra_interview

The official crew, LIFE.14, shoots before or in a place that can't be entered from the press, capturing precious moments on camera in both photos and videos. Among them, we provided valuable underwater images during training to NHK. You can see the video from the link below. (3:30~)

The pictures and videos will be archived at the United Nations UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/newsroomtokyo/features/20170913a.html