Marguerite Barankitse becomes inaugural Laureate for 2016 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS. Marguerite Barankitse (from Maison Shalom and REMA Hospital in Burundi) becomes the inaugural Laureate for Aurora Prize for saving thousands of lives and caring for orphans and refugees during the years of civil war in Burundi. “Armenpress” reports, citing the Facebook page of “Aurora”, the Co-chair of the Selection Committee, famous Hollywood actor George Clooney handled the Prize to Marguerite Barankitse.

The four finalists for the Prize were Marguerite Barankitse, from Maison Shalom and REMA Hospital in Burundi; Dr. Tom Catena, from Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan; Syeda Ghulam Fatima, the General Secretary of the Bonded Labor Liberation Front in Pakistan; and Father Bernard Kinvi, a Catholic priest in Bossemptele in the Central African Republic.

The ultimate Aurora Prize Laureate received a grant of US$100,000 and the chance to continue the cycle of donation by nominating organizations that inspired her work for a US$1 million award.