Orlando Bloom, the well-known British actor, flew to Ukraine to support the rebuilding of infrastructure for war-affected children as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. Bloom, recognized for his roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lord of the Rings, also met with Ukraine’s President Volodimir Zelensky to discuss priorities in the development of family care systems, infrastructure for early childhood education, and the promotion of youth projects and startups. In his meeting with the Ukrainian leader, Bloom praised the courage and resistance of Ukrainians who, despite the ongoing war, remained strong.
President Zelensky emphasized the importance of creating a safe environment for children in Ukraine and asked UNICEF to focus on providing air-raid shelters for schools. Bloom also shared his experience visiting a school in Irpin, which was equipped with a bomb shelter, explaining that such projects were important to UNICEF.
The two also tackled the issue of Ukrainian children who have been deported to Russia. According to the humanitarian organization “Save Ukraine,” only 324 of the at least 16,200 affected children have so far been repatriated. There is no single mechanism yet in place for their return.
In conclusion, Bloom’s visit to Ukraine as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador underscores the importance of supporting war-affected children and families in the country. The discussions with President Zelensky highlight the pressing need to create a safe environment for children by prioritizing the development of infrastructure for early childhood education and air-raid shelters for schools. The issue of deported Ukrainian children is also a priority that requires attention and action from various parties.
