From 1993 – 2005 the African country Burundi experienced a horrific civil war. The war began due to discrepancies between the Hutu and Tutsi groups in the nation. More than 300,000 lives were taken during that tragic period in Burundi’s history, and today they are still battling the unsettling violence that threatens the lives of their civilians.
Amid the heartbreaking violence and loss, Marguerite Barankitse saw all that was happening around her and made the heroic decision to begin a mission to save children whose lives were endangered by the warfare. Barankitse used her resources from the Catholic diocese she worked for to create a haven for children of the Hutu and Tutsi. It also served as a neutral environment for refugees looking to escape their grim reality. Although Barankitse’s efforts began in 1993, she was recently honored for her bravery and humanitarian spirit.
Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney presented Berankitse with the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity which “recognizes exceptional individuals who have preserved human life in the face of adversity, risking freedom, reputations, livelihoods, or even their lives.” In addition to a tremendous honorable award and recognition, she was also granted a $1 million grant, which she said she will donate to a charity that aids in sending children in her region to school and helps to provide adequate medical care for those who were injured during the civil war.
