2014 Champions Of Youth Award

Minga Peru was chosen to receive the 2014 EMpower Champions of Youth Award. This award honors one long-standing grantee partner of EMpower that has made a significant contribution to the field of youth development in its community or country. As said by the President of EMpower, Marta Cabrera, “We believe Minga represents the best of EMpower’s mission in its work to empower young men and women, lift those in poverty, provide concrete skills, continually innovate and evolve as a learning organization”.
Loreto Program Coordinator, Emira Montes Zuta, and Minga Executive Director, Eliana Elías, traveled to New York City to receive the award on behalf of the women, men and youth working to improve life conditions in river communities of the Loreto region. Dressed in traditional Kukama clothing, Emira delivered an inspiring acceptance speech. Congratulations to all of the amazing young people of the Loreto region for your work!

 

2014 Triumph Of The Spirit Award

Eliana Elías, Minga Peru Executive Director, was selected as the first international recipient of the Triumph of the Spirit Human Rights Award from Southern Methodist University. According to Rick Halperin, Director of the Embrey Human Rights Program, the award “represents a microcosm of life-changing work being done locally and around the world on issues affecting everyone. The awards are meant to give us all hope that change can be made even by small steps of awareness and action”.
Eliana is very happy with the award and has donated the $25,000 cash prize to Minga. She believes that this award is an acknowledgement of all the people who have accompanied her and Minga, providing her with inspiration, support, encouragement and advice throughout the years. And, of course, it is also an acknowledgement of the brave women of the Amazon who have invested their strength and joy in fighting for their rights.
Congratulations to everyone!