Ivanovic hopes to help counter violence in Serbian schools

Dubai: Former World No 1 Ana Ivanovic is hoping she can dedicate some extra time to her role as Unicef National Ambassador for Serbia.

"It is such an important thing in my life to be able to give something back to society," Ivanovic said of her assignment that she has been with since September 2007.

"I am so fortunate that tennis has opened so many doors and opportunities for me and this is just one way that I can give back to society in some way."

On the look out to start something of her own, Ivanovic was approached by Unicef and offered the opportunity to be part of their child protection initiative in primary schools in her native Serbia.

Others eminent personalities who joined Ivanovic as ambassadors were fellow tennis player Jelena Jankovic, former national basketball star and coach Aleksander Dordevic and filmmaker Emir Kusturica, a two-time winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

"I must admit I have not been able to give too much time to the project due to my involvement in my career. But every time I see an opportunity where I can contribute and spend some time with the kids I try to do so," Ivanovic said.

The Serb, who is mainly involved with Unicef's ‘School without Violence' meets up with children at primary school level who are "always in danger of being exploited through some form of violence".

Huge problem

"Mostly it is due to being bullied, either physically or mentally and this can have so much of an impact on young minds. Violence in schools is such a huge problem and in Serbia itself, more than 62 per cent of the kids have to endure it in some form and we are trying to stop this," Ivanovic said.

"This is so reviving and rewarding for me and I sincerely hope that in the future I get more such opportunities to reach out and move to children in high schools as well," she said.

Seeded No 14 here, Ivanovic will start her campaign here against Switzerland's Patty Schnyder.