Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali, the Secretary General of the African Council of Religious Leaders — Religions for Peace (ACRL—RfP), the GNRC Coordinator for Africa, and the Chair of the GNRC Fourth Forum Organizing Committee, has been honored as runner-up for the global Coexist Prize. Among six finalists selected worldwide by the Coexist Foundation for the global award, Dr. Ali was the only finalist from Africa to be selected, out of a list of nearly two hundred peacemakers and conflict transformation practitioners from around the world. He was chosen as one of two runners-up from this distinguished group of six finalists. The awards ceremony took place in New York, US on 20 March 2012. The overall winner was Lian Gogali, from Indonesia. She was honored for her outstanding and courageous work establishing Institute Mosintuwu educating Muslim and Christian women and children in post-conflict Poso.
Watch the short video about Dr. Ali’s work.
The Coexist Foundation initiated this award to honor individuals who have made substantial efforts within their communities, countries and regions to build bridges in promoting religious understanding and peaceful co-existence amongst people of different faiths, including resolving conflicts in the most hostile environments.
The other runner up was Dishani Jayweera, the founder of the Centre for Peace Building and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka, and the other finalists were: Oliver McTernan (UK), William Ury (US), and Josh Stanton (US).
Dr. Ali has been at the forefront in promoting reconciliation amongst warring communities within Africa and beyond. His work includes finding ways to peacefully and sustainably address some of the most intractable and difficult conflicts in Africa, in some of the most challenging countries. These include Somalia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Libya, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Dr. Ali’s work considered for this award has been done in his capacity as the Secretary General of the African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL), as the Africa Representative of Religions for Peace (RfP) International and as the Global Network of Religions for Children Coordinator for Africa (GNRC Africa).
You can find more information and see videos on the other finalists on (http://www.coexistfoundation.net/project/57/coexist-prize-ceremony.htm)
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For further Information please contact:
Hawa Noor/Nyambura Gichuki
African Council of Religious Leaders—Religions for Peace
25, Othaya Road off Gitanga Road
P.O. Box 76398 – 00508
Tel: + 254 20 3862233/3867879
Tel/Fax: + 254 20 3870183
Email: secretariat@acrl-rfp.org
Website: www.acrl-rfp.org
