Kim Phuc Phan Thi was designated as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for culture of peace in November 1997, in recognition of her courage and generosity in promoting a culture of peace through reconciliation and tolerance.

Kim Phuc Phan Thi is best known as the nine-year old child running away from a napalm attack, depicted in the Pulitzer Prize winning photograph “The Terror of War” taken by photographer Nick Ut during the Vietnam War in June 1972.

In 2007, Kim Phuc Phan Thi supported the project “Nakyessa Day and Boarding School”. The project, implemented by the Kim Foundation in close cooperation with UNESCO, aimed to provide basic education for disadvantaged children in Nakyessa, Uganda. Through the Kim Foundation, she supports children who are victims of war by providing medical and psychological support in order that they overcome their traumatic experiences. 

In her capacity as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, she attended various events. For instance, in 2012, she attended the event entitled “Capitalizing on Women’s potential in times of crisis” hosted by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, and a panel discussion entitled “Trafficking in Women and Girls” on the International Women’s Day.

In recognition of her life dedicated to the promotion of peace, Kim Phuc Phan Thi received the Dresden Peace Prize 2019, which honors individuals for their work to promote peace.