Raya Abirached
Raya Abirached
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About Raya
Through hard work and perseverance, Raya Abirached cemented her name as one of the most successful TV personalities in the Arab world. Raya started her career as a journalist in Beirut before moving to the UK in 1999. She holds a BA in economics, a Masters in Cinema from Lebanon, and a Masters in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Westminster in London.
With more than 15 years of experience as a TV host, producer, writer and researcher, Raya hosts several successful TV shows and covers the world’s most prestigious film events and festivals. In 2019, Abirached won the Arab Women of the Year Award for Achievement in Television at the 2019 Arab Women of the Year Awards in London. Raya is the brand ambassador of many international brands, including the prestigious Armani and Bvlgari, among many others.
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Past highlights of Raya’s support
In 2017, over her Facebook page, Raya hosted a live fundraising winter telethon from Jordan for the UNHCR’s winter appeal. She also launched another fundraising call in Ramadan of 2018 and interviewed refugee families live on her Instagram for World Refugee Day later that year. In the last six years, Raya has supported UNHCR’s flagship campaigns, including winter and Ramadan, hosting live fundraising telethons and using her social media platforms to call for action during emergency appeals such as the Syria & Turkiye earthquakes in early 2023.
She has also hosted the Nansen Refugee Awards and moderated several panels between private sector partners and civil society across the MENA region. Through four field visits to Jordan and Lebanon, Raya has worked with UNHCR on advocacy and awareness content throughout the years for milestones such as World Refugee Day, Women’s Day, Syria Crisis Anniversary, and more. In April 2021, Raya was appointed UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in the MENA region.
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Recent advocacy
Currently, Raya is working with UNHCR on its climate action campaign and advocating for vulnerable communities forced to flee due to climate-related events.
Raya's work as a Goodwill Ambassador
News and highlights
Find the latest news and key highlights about Raya's work as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
