Angelina Jolie is known around the world for being one of the best and most beautiful actresses to grace the silver screens. Although she had a tumultuous younger life, constantly being in the public eye and known as a “wild child”, she has transformed into a wiser woman that today inspires us with her humanitarian work.
Angelina Jolie’s interest in humanitarian work began in 2001 while shooting the film Tomb Raider, where she played the main character of Lara Croft. Filming the movie in Cambodia was an awakening for the actress, who then took the initiative to go to the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) to request more information regarding the refugee situation in various parts of the globe.
She then went on her first visit by February 2001 to the troubled areas of Tanzania and Sierra Leone, which immersed her in the consequences of the refugee situation even more. Angelina Jolie then dedicated her time into learning about the situation and the policies that affect them. She went to go on several missions, particularly on one that the UNHCR considered an emergency appeal wherein she donated $1 million to Afghan refugees.
The world, and most importantly the UNHCR, took notice of her dedication and commitment to the issue. In 2001 she was proclaimed Goodwill Ambassador. This allowed her opportunities to go on more field missions, wherein she covered all her own costs. She visited internally displaced persons and refugees around the world. She used her popularity and aimed at creating awareness of the situation’s impact. Since then, she has gone on field missions to places such as Kenya, Ecuador, Thailand, Namibia, Russia, and North Caucasus.
Angelina Jolie published Notes from my Travels in 2003. The book chronicles her first few field missions in various third world countries, and highlights the poverty, persecution, extreme weather, and sufferings that the refugees experience. In the years that followed, she visited various UNHCR regional offices as well as Pakistan, India, Costa Rica, Chad, Iraq, and Syria.
Following this, she was more involved with political efforts. She became an active lobbyist for humanitarian efforts and recognized the importance of the political aspect. Every year she attends the World Refugee Day in Washington DC, alongside significant figures in the political arena. She was also invited to speak at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland during 2005 and 2006.
Angelina Jolie was instrumental in pushing bills that seek to help vulnerable children and refugees around the world. She also founded an organization entitled National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children, and provided funding worth $500,000. She also founded the Jolie Pitt Foundation, and contributed significant donations to projects and organizations. She is a co-chair as well at the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict.
Her many efforts have been recognized, and today Angelina Jolie is not just a legendary actress, but serves as an inspiration to the rest of us to do what we can for issues we believe in.
