Marguerite Barankitse receives first $1m Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity
Howard Lake | 25 April 2016 | News
Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian George Clooney has presented the inaugural $1 million Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity to Marguerite Barankitse at a ceremony in Yerevan, Armenia. She was recognised for her work in saving thousands of lives and caring for orphans and refugees during the years of civil war in Burundi.
The prize will also benefit other organisations. Barankitse will receive a $100,000 grant but also continue the cycle of giving by donating the accompanying $1,000,000 award to organisations that have inspired her work.
She plans to divide this sum in gifts to three organisations that advance aid and rehabilitation for child refugees and orphans, and fight against child poverty:
- the Fondation du Grand-Duc et de La Grande-Duchesse du Luxembourg
- Fondation Jean-François Peterbroeck (JFP Foundation)
- Fondation Bridderlech Deelen Luxembourg.
She explained her choice:
“I chose them because these people supported me and never abandoned me, even in difficult times. They have the same values as me and as the Maison Shalom – compassion, friendliness, dignity, and a generosity which costs nothing.”
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Mr Clooney, Co-Chair of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee, said:
“Marguerite Barankitse serves as a reminder of the impact that one person can have even when encountering seemingly insurmountable persecution and injustice. By recognizing Marguerite Barankitse’s courage, commitment and sacrifice, I am hopeful that she can also inspire each one of us to think about what we can do to stand up on behalf of those whose rights are abused and are in most need of our solidarity or support.”
Saving lives in Burundi
When war broke out in Burundi, Barankitse, a Tutsi, tried to hide 72 of her closest Hutu neighbors to keep them safe from persecution. They were discovered and executed, whilst Barankitse was forced to watch. In response to this, she started her work saving and caring for children and refugees. She has saved roughly 30,000 children and in 2008, she opened the Maison Shalom and REMA Hospital which has treated more than 80,000 patients to date.
Three finalists
Guests at the award ceremony also celebrated the achievements of the other three finalists for the Aurora Prize:
- Dr. Tom Catena, from Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan;
- Syeda Ghulam Fatima, the General Secretary of the Bonded Labour Liberation Front in Pakistan;
- Father Bernard Kinvi, a Catholic Priest in Bossemptele, Central African Republic (CAR).
On the occasion of the inaugural Aurora Prize Ceremony, these humanitarians were each presented with a $25,000 award from the Aurora Prize co-founders to support the organisations that have inspired their work.
The Aurora Prize Selection Committee includes Nobel Laureates Elie Wiesel, Oscar Arias, Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee; former President of Ireland Mary Robinson; human rights activist Hina Jilani; former Australian Foreign Minister and President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group Gareth Evans; President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York Vartan Gregorian; and Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian George Clooney.
The Aurora Prize will be awarded annually on April 24 in Yerevan, Armenia.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.