Are Goodwill Ambassadors Merely Glorified Volunteers?

What is a Goodwill Ambassador?

Goodwill Ambassadors are successful, well-known people who voluntarily advocate for various causes or organizations to raise awareness in the general public of such causes or organizations.  Issues, illnesses, and political problems in other countries don’t always receive the mass attention which could aid them.  Goodwill Ambassadors try to help bring awareness to these situations by using their clout in a variety of ways.  

What is their job or function?

The UN Development Programme’s article Ambassadors share human development concern and commitment states, “They are at the top of their field, whether it’s broadcasting, the literary world or the football stadium, with talents and achievements that have made them household names….Despite their diverse claims to fame, however, they all share a deep concern for the world’s poor and a commitment to making the planet a better place for all…UNDP, along with other UN agencies, has long enlisted the voluntary services and support of prominent individuals as Goodwill Ambassadors to highlight these causes.  Their fame helps amplify…” (UNDP initiatives) “…helping to accelerate achievement of…”  (their goals).  “They articulate…” (UNDP’s mission) “…and motivate people to act in the interest of improving their own lives and those of their fellow citizens.  They give their time freely…and travel often to developing countries for first-hand observation so that they can bring the…message to the industrialized world.”

Mr. Nakata, an Honorary Ambassador representing UN Volunteers,  “…called attention to the fact that using well-known individuals to promote issues by reaching political leaders, youth and other groups, by enhancing visibility of programs, and by working with the media, is an effective means of advocacy.”  (UN Goodwill Ambassador Conference concludes in New York, unv.org, 19 June, 2002)

In a nutshell, the job of a Goodwill Ambassador is to publicly advocate for a cause or organization.  They go about this by traveling and viewing the problem first-hand, then speaking publicly about the charity or organization’s goals and initiatives to mend the problems.

Is this just a new fad or trend?

Goodwill Ambassadors have been around for a very long time in a variety of different forms.  Since diplomacy started, influential people have been used to exchange gifts, offer aid, or give humanitarian relief on the behalf of one group of people to another group of people. 

Of course, it would be hard to argue that it’s certainly become fashionable in the Hollywood set in recent years.  A strong number of famous entertainers have jumped on the bandwagon, so to speak.  Wyclef Jean is currently using his UN Goodwill Ambassadorship as qualifying experience in his bid for the presidency of Haiti.

Is a Goodwill Ambassador just a fancy title for a volunteer?

According to Wikipedia, “An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization.”  That is an actual ambassador, however a goodwill ambassador is more of an honorific title for an ambassador of goodwill. 

At the end of the day, Goodwill Ambassador is absolutely a fancy title for a volunteer.  Unlike ordinary people who volunteer, Goodwill Ambassadors have more influence politically, socially, financially, and certainly within the media.  One way to think of it would be that Goodwill Ambassadors are “head” volunteers.  They are the highest ranking diplomatic volunteers whose actions and words are followed by a large number of people. 

Can anyone become one?

Goodwill Ambassadors are well-known people with connections in both politics and the media.  According to ehow’s How to become a Goodwill Ambassador, “Celebrities… receive invitations.  There are no applications-you must have political connections.”  They offer an incredibly cute how-to piece, worth the read. 

In reality, unless you are an affluent and famous person, there is a very slim chance.  The whole point of Goodwill Ambassadors is to use their fame for the good of the organization they represent.  If you don’t have any fame, then there is no fame for you to use, but many wonderful organizations are always looking for volunteers.  A volunteer is something that anyone can become, however you probably won’t get a fabulous title.