Press Release

Bolivian NGO wins OFID Annual Award for Development

PR29/2009 June 18, 2009 Vienna, Austria
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La Confederación Nacional de Mujeres Campesinas Indígenas Originarias de Bolivia “Bartolina Sisa” (the National Confederation of Peasant Indigenous Native Women of Bolivia “Bartolina Sisa”) has won this year’s OFID Annual Award for Development. OFID Director-General, Mr. Suleiman J. Al-Herbish presented the Award to Ms. Leonida Zurita Vargas, Executive Secretary of the group. She was accompanied by H.E. Dr. Horacio Bazoberry Otero, Ambassador of Bolivia to Austria.

Bartolina Sisa is a Bolivia-based Non-governmental Organization which was established in January, 1980. It became a Confederation in November, 2008. Its core activities include the promotion of landownership rights as a basic principle of sovereignty for the indigenous and rural populations; participation of women in the economic, social and political life of Bolivia; improvement of food sovereignty; and reduction of illiteracy in rural areas.

Mr. Al-Herbish said the Award was given in recognition of Bartolina Sisa’s commendable efforts at improving the quality of life among Bolivia’s poor, indigenous women. The Director-General added that such efforts were in accord with OFID’s commitment and assistance toward raising living standards among the poorest segments of society, particularly women. He urged Bartolina Sisa to carry on with its noble work.

In her acceptance statement, Ms. Vargas thanked OFID for the recognition. She also conveyed the gratitude of Bolivian women, especially the indigenous women, most of whom reside in the rural areas of the country. She assured OFID that the Award money will be used to further assist indigenous women in Bolivia, as well as other poor women in some adjoining countries.

The OFID Annual Award for Development was instituted in 2006. The first winner was HUMANA People-to-People, a Zimbabwe-based NGO. The second was an Austria-based NGO, SOS Children’s Villages. Last year’s winner was the Grameen Bank of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Award carries a prize of US$100,000, and was, this year, presented on the sidelines of the 30th Annual session of the Ministerial Council of OFID, held at OFID headquarters in Vienna, June 16th. Mr. Al-Herbish gave the Award in the presence of HE Dr. Seyed Shamseddin Hosseini, Chairman of the Ministerial Council; HE Mr. Jamal N. Lootah, Chairman of the Governing Board; and other members of the Council.

 

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