The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Prize is the largest in the world to be awarded annually in recognition of humanitarian action. It is a great honor for Greece that METAdrasi, a Greek Civil Society Organization, was selected this year for this significant distinction, following a rigorous process of evaluating organizations around the world!
This award comes at a particularly difficult time and highlights the critical issue of refugee flows, which is not Greek or European, but a global one. At the same time, however, it demonstrates what we can achieve in Greece, when we work together, with dedication and organization, when we persist with passion and dare to innovate.
The Prize Ceremony will take place in the context of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Humanitarian Symposium in Los Angeles on Friday, October 18, 2019 at 2:30 pm local time and you may watch the live stream here:
https://www.hiltonfoundation.org/prize-live
(in Greece: Saturday 19 October, 00:30)
Watch the live stream
and share with us this great moment!
More information:
The theme of this year’s symposium is “The Future of Humanitarian Action: Seeking Higher Ground.” The daylong conference will bring together thought leaders and humanitarians from around the globe to explore the issues and opportunities that must be addressed to meet the most pressing humanitarian crises of today and tomorrow. Featured speakers include: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of “Americana,” “Half of a Yellow Sun,” and “Purple Hibiscus;” Christiana Figueres, founding partner, Global Optimism and former executive secretary of the UN Climate Convention (2010-2016); Sister Joan Chittister, American Benedictine nun, theologian and author of “The Time Is Now;” Patrisse Cullors, co-founder, Black Lives Matter Global Network; and Tyler Hicks, Pulitzer Prize-winning staff photographer of The New York Times, among others.
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation President and CEO, Peter Laugharn:
“METAdrasi is a remarkable example of a nimble organization that leads the charge in areas where essential services are lacking. Their work is an inspiring example of what can happen when dedicated people are willing to take risks and seek innovative solutions for complicated problems.”
The European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides:
“…because I know that for this prize to be awarded there is a great evaluation on all levels […] for this prize to reach Greece and METAdrasi it means that the evaluators have seen both the practicality and effectiveness but also the soul of this programme.”
METAdrasi’s founder and president, Lora Pappa:
“I am so grateful that the soul of our team – for which I am particularly proud – has been recognized. We share this prize with every Greek and everyone should be proud that a Greek team proved that meritocracy can exist, that we can make things better, finding innovative solutions to complicated problems.”
*Photo and video courtesy of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation