Sir Mo Farah to visit Kenya as Global Goodwill Ambassador for IOM – UN Migration
Sir Mo Farah, the renowned Somali-British marathon runner, will visit Kenya from April 21 to 23. The visit marks Farah’s return to the region of his roots as a Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – UN Migration.
Farah, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, and six-time world champion, will use his platform to see first-hand the impact of IOM’s humanitarian and development work in Kenya.
As a survivor of human trafficking himself, Farah’s visit will take on special significance as he seeks to advocate for the needs and aspirations of migrants in the country.
Farah, 40, retired from running in September after a long and celebrated career. In 2022, he revealed to the world that he had been trafficked from Somalia to the UK as a child.
“No child should ever go through what I went through, victims of child trafficking are just children. They deserve to be children. They deserve to play and be children,” said Farah.
“Becoming a global goodwill ambassador for IOM gives me the chance to help people, people like me, and to make a difference. To help people know that we can all make a difference in our lives.”
Farah intends to use his new platform as a Goodwill Ambassador to raise awareness of issues affecting people on the move, including protection and trafficking, and to advocate for the transformative power of sport, especially for women and girls.
“Migration is so important to all of us, including me. I was able to use the opportunity that sport gave me to overcome my experiences as a young boy and show that no matter what we look or sound like, we can achieve and overcome great things,” he said.
During his visit, Farah will engage with migrants, local authorities, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to raise awareness of the challenges faced by migrants in Kenya.
He will also highlight the transformative power of sport as a tool for integration and community building.
Highlights of Farah’s itinerary include the launch of a digital library at the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) on Sunday, April 21.
He will also participate in the Mo Farah Cup, an annual football tournament, where he will interact with over 200 urban migrants. It is important to note, however, that there will be no interviews with Farah during this event.