UAE: Zayed award announces winners of $1-million prize

The Community of Sant’Egidio and Kenyan peacebuilder Shamsa Abubakar Fadhil have been announced as honorees of the 2023 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.

Now in its fourth edition, the award recognises the two honourees for their contributions to building a more compassionate world and setting an inspiring example of promoting peaceful coexistence.

The Community of Sant’Egidio is a humanitarian association based in Rome, Italy, with representative offices in 73 countries across Europe, Africa, the US, and Asia.

The association is being recognised for its contribution to successful peace negotiations and conflict resolution through religious diplomacy and intercultural dialogue — promoting peace in various places around the world, from Guatemala to Mozambique.

The organisation continues to assist refugees and support their integration into host societies through its ‘Humanitarian Corridors’ initiative, which also extends support to the most impoverished communities around the world.

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A community mobiliser and peacebuilder in Kenya, Shamsa Abubakar Fadhil — known as ‘Mama Shamsa’ — is being recognised for nurturing the youth in Kenya. She has been saving young people from lives of violence, crime, and extremism, by providing them with counselling, care, and training.

Fadhil has led major campaigns in Kenya and greater Africa to draw awareness to violence against women, as well as women and youth empowerment.

“This year’s honourees are truly outstanding leaders that are dedicating their lives to address division, build resilient communities and cultivate compassion and hope,” said Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, secretary-general of Zayed Award for Human Fraternity and secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Elders.

“The Community of Sant’Egidio and Mama Shamsa have transformed the lives of vulnerable and marginalised peoples in societies around the world, including youth, refugees, and those living in conflict zones. We hope to amplify their efforts and inspire other institutions and individuals around the world to play an active role in promoting the values of human fraternity.”