Turismo
George Clooney Delivers Remarks at the Inaugural Aurora Prize Ceremony
On behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, an Aurora Prize Laureate will be honored each year.
Marguerite Barankitse from Maison Shalom and REMA Hospital in Burundi was named as the inaugural Laureate of the $1 million Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity. At a ceremony held in Yerevan, Armenia , Barankitse was recognized for the extraordinary impact she has had in saving thousands of lives and caring for orphans and refugees during the years of civil war in Burundi .
As the first Aurora Prize Laureate, Barankitse will receive a $100,000 grant and continue the cycle of giving by donating the accompanying $1,000,000 award to organizations that have inspired her work. Barankitse plans to donate the award to three organizations in order to advance aid and rehabilitation for child refugees and orphans, and fight against child poverty. These organizations are: the Fondation du Grand-Duc et de La Grande-Duchesse du Luxembourg , Fondation Jean-François Peterbroeck (JFP Foundation), and the Fondation Bridderlech Deelen Luxembourg.
Guests also celebrated the exceptional contributions 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 ; and Father Bernard Kinvi , a Catholic Priest in Bossemptele, Central African Republic (CAR).
Leading humanitarian figures and Aurora Prize Selection Committee members, including Gareth Evans , Hina Jilani , Leymah Gbowee, Shirin Ebadi and Vartan Gregorian, attended and participated in the Aurora Prize Award Ceremony.
The Aurora Prize will be awarded annually on April 24 in Yerevan, Armenia .
Further information is available at www.auroraprize.com.
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