Helena Christensen Is Donating Three Photographs To The Abu Dhabi Dream Ball

The Danish photographer and UNHCR ambassador is generously donating her work to the gala’s benevolent fundraising auction

Tonight, the second edition of the Abu Dhabi Dream Ball for 2020 descends upon the UAE’s capital, presented by Etihad Airways and hosted by Abu Dhabi-based collective Sawtouna, held under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance.

The star-studded event features a benevolent fundraising auction, designed to support the United National High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Lebanon, in the hopes of helping increase the level of access to primary health care for the some 74,000 Syrian refugees currently in the country.

Helena Christensen, UNHCR ambassador and photographer, will not only be present at tonight’s event, but is also kindly donating three photographs she took whilst on a mission in Jordan, on behalf of the UNHCR.

Having fun with these little ladies and their ‘chanting’ dolls in Jordan where I am on a mission with UNHCR- It’s very cold and the girls are freezing but we cuddled close together and warmed ourselves with laughter. This is the ninth consecutive winter that refugees from Syria will spend in displacement. Vital items are needed to combat these chilly winter months such as blankets, warm clothing, thermal sheets and heating. 397,773 Syrian refugees (96,269 families) in Jordan’s urban areas and camps will be unable to meet their increased needs during the winter season. Families like Bassam’s and his sweet little girls. If you would like to support pls go to the link in my bio, thank you @refugees

A post shared by Helena (@helenachristensen) on Jan 21, 2020 at 11:23am PST

Speaking of the story behind the photographs, Helena explained, “My role as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador took me to Amman, Jordan where I met these wonderful refugee girls.”

“The two little sisters, Rafeef and Jana, were playing around with their ‘chanting’ dolls, and are the daughters of a lovely family whose father, Bassem, was a tailor in recycled products.”

She continues, “These three girls were all at the Nuzrah community centre and had been watching a film together. They came out of the dark cinema room blinking and I photographed them in the doorway.”

Tickets and tables to the 2020 Abu Dhabi Dream Ball are available for purchase via 800 Tickets. All proceeds from ticket and table sales will be directed towards the UNHCR’s efforts in Lebanon.

To see the complete list of auction items at the Abu Dhabi Dream Ball, click here.