Bhubaneswar: The prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award 2013 was presented to global philanthropist and social entrepreneur Madam Albina du Boisrouvray from Switzerland at Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences here.
Rabbi Julia Neuberger, the Baroness Neuberger DBE, Founding Trustee, Walter & Liesel Schwab Charitable Trust, UK presented the award instituted by Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Bhubaneswar in 2008.
The award citation recognised her "concern for millions of vulnerable children and a vision for a world having linkage between health, human rights and poverty eradication".
Boisrouvray is the founder of Association FXB International, which works with vulnerable children all over the world.
The organisation is named after her son, who was killed in an accident in 1986. Born in a wealthy family, she is a former journalist and film producer. However, the tragedy changed the course of her life and she established FXB International, which now leads over 100 programmes in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe.
Albina du Boisrouvray is a remarkable woman who was inspired by her grief, said Rabbi Neuberger, presenting the KISS Humanitarian Award 2013.
Appreciating the work of KISS she stated, "I was delighted to see little children learning here in their own mother-tongue".
Earlier, welcoming the dignitaries to the presentation ceremony, Dr Achyut Samanta, founder of KISS and KIIT, said that it is a honour for KISS to felicitate Madam Boisrouvray, who has distinguished herself by helping millions of children in distress across the world.
KISS, which is the largest free residential institute for tribal children, shares her concern, he added.
The KISS Humanitarian Award was instituted to honour and recognise individuals with exceptionally high contribution to the society in various fields relating to social issues and who have distinguished themselves as true humanitarians.
The award is presented annually and its recipient is chosen by a high-level jury.