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Ana Ferrero, Field Protection Officer, the UN Refugee Agency Branch Office, Colombia
Marguerite Barankitse, known to many as the “Angel of Burundi” for her tireless work on behalf of children affected by war, poverty and disease, received the 2005 Nansen Refugee Award at a ceremony in Brussels on June 23rd.
“Angel of Burundi” wins refugee award
Accepting the Nansen medal from HRH Princess Mathilde of Belgium and UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Wendy Chamberlin, Barankitse said her work was inspired by one single goal: peace. “Accept your fellow man, sit down together, make this world a world of brothers and sisters,” she said.
 Created in 1954, the Nansen Refugee Award is named after Fridtjof Nansen, the Norwegian explorer who was the League of Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees. As such, he was the world's first international refugee official. The prize is given annually to individuals or organizations to honour distinguished service in the cause of refugees. Last year's prize went to the Russian non-governmental organisation, Memorial Human Rights Center. The winner is selected each year by a Committee composed of the governments of Norway and Switzerland, UNHCR, the Council of Europe and the International Council of Voluntary Agencies. |
Barankitse, a Burundian Tutsi, was spurred to action in October 1993 when civil war broke out in Burundi. She had already adopted seven Hutu and Tutsi children. When all of them survived the massacres, she decided to devote herself to saving the lives of other children.
She has since opened three centres for traumatized and orphaned children and has assisted over 10,000 children. The Deputy High Commissioner applauded Barankitse’s contribution to building a more peaceful world by teaching children of all ethnic origins that co-existence is possible. “Throughout her work with her organisation, Maison Shalom, Marguerite Barankitse sends a message of hope for the future,” said Chamberlin.
The medal, named after the first High Commissioner for Refugees, Fridtjof Nansen, is awarded every year. A prize of US$100,000 is given in addition to the award to go towards Barankitse’s projects to help children.
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PHOTO CREDITS
Top left: Marguerite Barankitse receiving the Nansen Refugee Award from Princess Mathilde of Belgium (left) and Deputy High Commissioner Wendy Chamberlin in Brussels. © UNHCR/J.de Tessières
Top right: The 2005 Nansen Refugee Award winner Marguerite Barankitse with some of the many children she has helped through Shalom Maison. © UNHCR/N.Tsinonis
