George Clooney Awards $1,000,000 Prize To Woman Who Saved 30,000 Kids

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George Clooney has awarded a prize of $1,000,000 (£700,000) to one incredible woman for her role in saving the lives of over 30,000 children. 

Marguerite Barankitse – or Maggy as she is known – is from Burundi in East Africa and was one of four finalists nominated for The Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, reports the Huffington Post.

Back in 1993 Maggy set up Maison Shalom (House of Peace) when tensions between Burundi’s minority population of Tutsis and majority Hutus escalated, resulting in the mass killing of over 25,000 Tutsis.

At the time, Maggy risked her life to shelter a group of Hutus, despite being a Tutsi herself with her shelter providing refuge for tens of thousands of people over a number of years.

She has revealed that she will donate the money to three other organisations working to end child poverty.

At the ceremony in Yerevan, Armenia, Clooney said:

Maggy serves as a reminder of the impact that one person can have even when encountering seemingly insurmountable persecution and injustice.

By recognising her courage, commitment and sacrifice, I am hopeful that she can also inspire all of us to think about what we can do on behalf of those in most need of our solidarity or support.

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The Aurora Prize aims to recognise exceptional humanitarian work in conflict-ridden regions.

The award ceremony was the finale of a series of events focused on humanitarian issues, including the Syrian refugee crisis.

Co-founders of the Aurora Prize, Vartan Gregorian and Noubar Afeyan, said both the UK and US could do more to help refugees.

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Mr Gregorian said: 

The United States, has only accepted 3,000 refugees – we should congratulate Great Britain for 20,000. But 20,000 is still ridiculous.

Each state has to do their best, but their best is not enough.

Our sincere congratulations to Maggy, what a truly incredible woman!

UNILAD