Children in Africa benefit from Foundation award

London, 16 Oct-(ANA)-Children and young people living in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, India and Nepal are to benefit from awards presented  in London by the STARS Foundation.  

Six grassroots organisations working in Africa and South Asia will be recognised by the 2009 STARS Impact Awards for making a demonstrable difference to the lives of disadvantaged children.

Five organisations will each receive Impact Awards of US$100,000 of unrestricted funding as well as tailored consultancy support.

In addition, a smaller Award is being given to recognise the work of an organisation that has demonstrated potential as a 'Rising Star'.

This organisation will receive US$10,000 of unrestricted funding, as well as consultancy support.

The prestigious awards, which are supported by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, are given by the STARS Foundation, a London-based charitable foundation which works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children around the world. 

Muna Wehbe, chief executive of STARS said: "We are delighted to announce the 2009 recipients. They have all demonstrated extraordinary commitment and found inspirational solutions to the challenges facing children in their communities."

This year's recipients of the Africa Impact Awards are:

• Education award: Bolgatanga-based AfriKids Ghana, selected for its holistic approach to taking children out of poverty via education, skills training and micro finance schemes while working in a traditionally neglected part of Ghana lacking infrastructure and services.
• Protection award: Mekelle-based Mums for Mums, selected for its innovative training programme in Ethiopia which gives young women the skills they need to earn a living, helping to break the cycle of poverty that puts so many of their children at risk.
• 'Rising star' award: Kenyan charity SAFE (Sponsored Art for Education), for its unique model of professional theatre performances and follow-up activities to deliver peer-to-peer health education messages in three very different communities across the country.

This year's recipients of the Asia Impact Awards are:

• Education award: Ahmedabad-based Sense International India, selected for its partnership approach to supporting deafblind children and for setting up South Asia's first teacher training and mentoring course in deafblindness.
• Protection award: Mumbai-based Prerana, selected for providing night and day care and education/training for children at risk from 'second generation' commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking in India.
• Health award: Pokhara-based Child Welfare Scheme Nepal, selected for targeted health care and safer motherhood programmes to very rural and poor communities, including mobile health clinics. (ANA)

FA/ANA/16 October 2009---