As part of the agreement, Club de Madrid members Benjamin Mkapa, former President of Tanzania, and Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana, will participate in the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity Ceremony in Yerevan, Armenia. These two African leaders have had first-hand experience in dealing with ongoing conflict in Africa and especially in Sudan. In Yerevan, they will be engaging with humanitarian practitioners, scholars, media professionals and policymakers to discuss effective approaches and reforms for peacekeeping and peacebuilding and the role of economic development in the process.
The Aurora Prize is a global award established by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative (AHI) and granted to individuals in recognition of the exceptional impact their actions have made on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes. Presidents Mkapa and Mogae will be on-hand to celebrate the 2017 Aurora Prize Laureate, who will receive a US$100,000 grant to continue their work, and the opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by nominating organizations that inspire their work for a US$1,000,000 award. The 2017 Aurora Prize Laureate will be selected from these five finalists: Fartuun Adan and Ilwad Elman, Jamila Afghani, Dr. Tom Catena, Muhammad Darwish and Dr. Denis Mukwege.
“We are always eager to partner with organizations that share our mission, and Club de Madrid’s support will be instrumental in empowering individuals to save lives, offering hope to those in need, and inspiring global humanitarian action,” said Ruben Vardanyan, Co-Founder of the AHI. “We are honored to work alongside this esteemed international organization to promote our common goal in raising attention for humanitarian issues and delivering effective responses to crisis and injustice around the globe.”
The Club de Madrid, whose membership of more than 100 democratic, former presidents and prime ministers from over 70 different countries, works to respond to a growing demand for support among today’s leaders in two key areas: democratic leadership and governance and response to crisis and post-crisis situations.
“The common denominator of our diverse membership body and the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is our keen awareness of the pressures and challenges facing the world and our deep commitment to fostering positive change through leadership and citizen engagement,” said Maria Elena Agüero, Secretary General of Club de Madrid. “We are proud to bring our experience, expertise and convening power to further deepen the tremendous impact that Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is making in all corners of the globe.”
About the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative
The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative (AHI) is a group committed to building a broad, global humanitarian movement rooted in inspiring stories of courage and survival that emerged during the Armenian Genocide. Founded on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative seeks to empower modern-day saviors to offer life and hope to those in urgent need of basic humanitarian aid and continue the cycle of giving internationally.
The Initiative seeks to inspire global expansion and amplification to continue a cycle of giving. By embodying a concept of “Gratitude in Action”, AHI hopes to involve the entire world in this important movement.
The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is an eight-year commitment that dates 2015 to 2023, in remembrance of the eight years of the Armenian Genocide, which took place 1915-1923. It is intended to support people and promote projects that tackle the needs of the most helpless and destitute, and do so at great risk.
The Initiative’s various programs include: The Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, the Aurora Dialogues, the Aurora Humanitarian Index, the Gratitude Projects and the 100 LIVES Initiative.
The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is the vision of philanthropists Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan who have been joined by several dozen new donors and partners. The Initiative welcomes all who embrace a commitment to our shared humanity.
About the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity
On behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, an Aurora Prize Laureate will be honored each year between 2015 and 2023 (in remembrance of the eight years of the Armenian Genocide 1915-1923) with a US$100,000 grant as well as the unique opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by nominating organizations that inspired their work for a US$1,000,000 award. Recipients will be recognized for the exceptional impact of their actions on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes.
The Aurora Prize Selection Committee includes Nobel Laureates Oscar Arias, Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee; former president of Ireland Mary Robinson; human rights activist Hina Jilani; former foreign minister of Australia and President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group Gareth Evans; former president of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo; President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York Vartan Gregorian; and Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian George Clooney.
Further information is available at www.auroraprize.com
About the Club de Madrid
The Club de Madrid is an independent non-profit organization composed of more than 100 former presidents and prime ministers from 70 democratic countries. The Club de Madrid responds to a growing demand for support to address a number of challenges in democratic governance by providing the experience and valuable leadership of its members.
The Club de Madrid works to strengthen democratic institutions and to offer advice on the resolution of political conflicts in order to enhance development and improve the lives of those most in need. Moreover, the Club de Madrid Club assists in the identification of politically sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by today’s leaders, developing practical recommendations, action plans and implementation strategies.
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