American actress Monique Coleman, best known for playing Taylor McKessie in the “High School Musical” movies, was appointed the first ever ‘Youth Champion’ by the United Nations to raise awareness about the challenges facing young people.

At a ceremony on Tuesday, 16 November at UN Headquarters in New York, Ms. Coleman was presented with a letter of recognition of her new role by Assistant Secretary-General Jomo Kwame Sundaram of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

In presenting the letter, Mr. Sundaram said Ms. Coleman will work “to raise awareness about the challenges young people face and will highlight the positive contribution they make to their communities.”

Ms. Coleman said that receiving the designation of Youth Champion was “beyond an honour” and that she would use her new position to promote global efforts to achieve the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals(MDGs), which have a 2015 deadline, with a special emphasis on the empowerment of youth.

The theme of the Year — dialogue and mutual understanding — calls for increased commitment and investment in youth, as well as for building bridges between generations and across cultures, religions and civilizations, he said.  It aims to recognize young people as a major human resource for development, positive social change and technical innovation.

As an actress, Coleman is known for her roles in the “High School Musical” movies and on the television show, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.”

Click here to read more and see the press conference video.

Click here for more information on the International Year of Youth.