The International Children’s Peace Prize is awarded annually to a child who fights courageously for children’s rights.
The world’s most prestigious youth prize was launched by KidsRights during the 2005 World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates at the Capitol in Rome, chaired by Mikhail Gorbachev. Since then, the prize has been presented every year by a Nobel Peace Laureate. The International Children’s Peace Prize is an initiative of Marc Dullaert, Chairman and Founder of the KidsRights Foundation.
Since the inception of the International Children’s Peace Prize, we have been honoured to have 20 winners from 18 different countries, on 5 different continents. They include Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America.
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The empowerment of young changemakers
All winners have shown a remarkable commitment to combat challenges faced by millions of children worldwide. The motivation behind the prize is to provide a platform for children to express their ideas and personal involvement in children’s rights. KidsRights believes that children should be recognized, awarded and motivated for their fierce efforts to improve their own situation and of numerous other children in their own community, country and even globally.
GLOBAL PLATFORM
The International Children’s Peace Prize recognizes the achievements of the young winner. It also offers the winner a global platform to promote their ideals and further their work. With the newfound attention, these young heroes’ messages reaches an international audience of millions. This global attention generates a higher level of cooperation and structural improvement for the realisation of children’s rights.
THE PRIZE
The winner receives the statuette ‘Nkosi’, which shows how a child sets the world in motion. This statuette, designed by Inge Ikink, is named after our very first winner, Nkosi Johnson. The winner also benefits from the Desmond Tutu Study and Care Fund and the International Children’s Peace Prize Project Fund, along with a worldwide platform to amplify their message and promote causes for the benefit of children’s rights.
Desmond Tutu Study and Care Fund
Each winner receives a study and care grant from the Desmond Tutu Study and Care Fund to support them in obtaining an education and to support their siblings and family where needed. A detailed description of the Desmond Tutu Study and Care Fund can be accessed in the guidelines here. For an overview of the impact and potential of the Desmond Tutu Study and Care Fund, read more here.
International Children’s Peace Prize Project Fund
The International Children’s Peace Prize is accompanied by a project fund, out of which €50,000 is for the winner’s project. For an overview of the impact and potential of the International Children’s Peace Prize Project Fund, read more here.