UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Reunites with Alumna Chantale Zuzi
In 2017, RefuSHE’s girls, young women, and staff were treated to a wonderful surprise visit from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Special Envoy Angelina Jolie. A long-time partner and supporter of RefuSHE, UNHCR was hosting her in Kenya to visit various nonprofit organizations. A few years earlier, she had launched the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), and she was interested in visiting an organization that was supporting refugee girls and young women who had fled conflict and violence.
Days before her arrival, the girls and our staff only knew that UNHCR was bringing a very important visitor to campus. After two days of anticipation, the girls were elated and ecstatic to see Angelina Jolie walk through our campus gate. The surprises did not stop there! After putting on a Fashion Show for her, our girls learned that it was actually the first Runway Show she had ever attended. Additionally, she worked with UNHCR to interview a number of participants for a video that was featured in an article in the April 2018 edition of Harper’s Bazaar magazine. The video and article were a gift to RefuSHE and they provided us with the opportunity to shine a bright light on our girls’ strength and resilience.
One of the girls Angelina met was Chantale Zuzi, a fiercely determined young woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Chantale was resettled to the U.S. in 2018 and now lives in Massachusetts. Chantale never forgot that day. It is a memory she cherishes dearly and, since then, her dream was to one day reunite with her new friend – Angelina Jolie.
That dream just came true!
As the exemplary humanitarian and mother that she is, Angelina immediately understood how much Chantale was looking forward to coming to Chicago to speak at our April Fashion Challenge and her disappointment when we had to cancel the in-person event. We are ever grateful that in the midst of a global pandemic, Angelina took the time to reach out to Chantale, for a virtual interview. We invite you to watch and listen to their heartwarming reunion below….
Then, on June 18th, we hope you will join us LIVE for our virtual Fashion Challenge: Reimagined to hear more from Chantale as she speaks about her experience at RefuSHE.
We are so appreciative of Angelina’s continued support for RefuSHE and the girls and young women we serve. Her graciousness and deep commitment to refugees around the world inspires us all.