Salma Hayek: Helping Children in Need

On Thursday the actress launched the second annual Pampers/UNICEF program, a campaign aimed at eradicating tetanus in mothers and their children around the world. For her work with UNICEF, she recently traveled to Sierra Leone.

"We went to a hospital, which was shocking. The conditions there was nothing to administer the vaccinations they don't have alcohol, clean water or electricity," she told PEOPLE Thursday. "There was a child that was the age of Valentina that was half the size of Valentina it is just heartbreaking."

Seeing the conditions made Hayek even more grateful for her life and her daughter, she tells PEOPLE. "I appreciate everything in my life more. I want to be a part of making a difference for them," she says. "I appreciate that my little baby is healthy. I thank God everyday that she is healthy."

By Eunice Oh
Reporting by LISA MARSH

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• entertainment
• news
• Salma
• Hayek
• UNICEF
• Sierra
• Leone
• PEOPLE.com
• PEOPLE
• Magazine
• Interview
• Africa

[compsz]

she should be helping children in need IN MEXICO!... instead traveling and crossing the hole world yjust to be filmed as a consious rich celebrity...

[tuse1991]

if i ever had a chance to do this i would say yes no matter what it s amazing what you can do...if i had money i would give every month more than half of my pay from acting for example...she s great..she should be example to lot of stars and young stars also

[Ebuzzzable]

INDEED!!!!!!! Mexico IS NOT Africa..... INDEED they need this MUCH MORE in Africa than they do in MX..... I'm with you..... tito11153 there is NOT comparation

[DoctorPretorious616]

Proof that Salma is as kind and generous as she is gorgeous and sexy.

[amuboat52]

Dio mio, quanto sei BELLA!!!!!!!!!!! bravissima, e generosa. ciao

[lollyQ23]

Mexico is not a 3rd world country! It's more developed than what you think, don't compare Mexico to Africa there are many differences. If you have the ability, financially speaking, to help others why not do it? The child mortality rate is uncomprable, even the lowest mortality rate that just about any African country has does'nt come close to Mexico's. Besides, what makes you think Salma does'nt help children in Mexico?

[TheIhateyoualready]

she is beautiful but weird

[pineapple1969]

a child in need is a child in need whether they be from Africa, Mexico, or some podunk town in America.

[tito11513]

mexican people , is not africa , please don , compare. mexican people , are difentes. salma thanks to help africa , i love them.