UNICEF ropes in Sachin Tendulkar as their brand ambassador

Sachin Tendulkar signs up for UNICEF as their brand ambassador

UNICEF roped Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar as their brand ambassador for promoting hygiene and sanitation at south Asia region. He will be the first brand ambassador of UNICEF for south Asia region. His engagement is for 2 years.

“Thanks for allowing me to start this wonderful second innings of my life. I’m looking forward to being an ambassador for UNICEF and serve to the best of my ability. This is an innings that is really really important to me, so I will try my best,” said Tendulkar.

At the press conference he elaborated about his new stint. He was very pleased to become a part of this great campaign.

“I was surprised to know that 36 per cent of the world population don’t have access to safe and clean toilets. In today’s day and age to think about this basic facility not being available to a common man, it is really difficult to digest,” he said.

He also said “I was surprised to know that 36 per cent of the world population don’t have access to safe and clean toilets. In today’s day and age to think about this basic facility not being available to a common man, it is really difficult to digest,”
Tendulkar recalled that there were times when he didn’t bother to wash his hands after playing.

“There was a stage where I would play downstairs with my friends, cricket with tennis ball, and occasionally didn’t bother washing my hands, and wanting to eat after coming back home. My mother made sure that I washed my hands properly and ate with clean hands,” he said.

Tendulkar, who was also earlier part of the Unicef campaigns for polio and global hand washing, said, “Hand wash according to me with soap is like vaccine which can prevent a lot of diseases. Basically, by not washing your hands after defecation allows a person to carry germs back home. It causes lot of harm to your health. Many diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, worms, infect many diseases related to respiratory are caused because of our negligence.”

Tendulkar wanted to meet more and more children to make aware them about hand washing.

“Not just I was part of spreading the message but also to spend time with children and educate them about hygiene; how important it is to lead life the way it is meant to be, is lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed doing that. I am looking forward to sharing such moments with a number of children.”