STA, 1 February 2021 – Prime Minister Janez Janša has nominated Slovenian Madagascar-based missionary Pedro Opeka and his humanitarian organisation Akamasoa for this yr’s Nobel Peace Prize, Janša’s workplace mentioned in a press launch on Sunday night. The prime minister welcomed Opeka’s complete strategy to the event of society and humanitarianism.
He mentioned the actions of Opeka and his organisation personified the targets of the United Nations.
Within the final 30 years, Opeka and Akamasoa have fought many battles towards poverty, giving folks from the social margin hope and creating alternatives for them to revive their dignity, Janša’s workplace mentioned.
Opeka has devoted his life to serving to folks residing in determined situations within the city of Antananarivo on Madagascar. He has enabled them to work, and acquire monetary independence and training.
The Akamasoa group now consists of greater than 18 villages with all required infrastructure. Former homeless folks and households now dwell in additional than 4,000 brick homes. The group offers an training system together with kindergarten, main and secondary colleges and since not too long ago additionally the college of Akamasoa, and three libraries.
Opeka and Akamasoa have thus far helped greater than half one million folks. Akamasoa yearly distributes about 5 million meals.
In line with Janša, the charity work of Opeka and his co-workers has turn into a “international peace challenge within the battle towards poverty, marginalisation and injustices”.
That is the third time that Opeka is being nominated for the prize. Janša first nominated him in 2013, and quite a lot of folks from the academia, politics and civil society backed the nomination. Prime Minister Miro Cerar nominated him in 2015.
Born to Slovenian expats in Buenos Aires in 1948, Opeka joined the Lazarian missionary society in 1966. He studied theology in Ljubljana, however accomplished his research on the Catholic Institute in Paris. He has been residing and dealing in Madagascar since 1976.
Opeka has acquired quite a few recognitions for his work, together with the Golden Order for Companies.
