The International Children’s Peace Prize 2012 was presented to Kesz (13) from the Philippines at the Ridderzaal in The Hague today. Of the three nominated children, who have all made extraordinary efforts in the area of children’s rights, the Expert Committee selected Kesz as the winner. He was awarded the prize by Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu.
Kesz received this award for his efforts to improve the rights of street children in the Philippines, where more than 246,000 street children are subjected to abuse, violence and child labour. Many of them also struggle to cope with major health issues. Kesz was in the same situation. He was severely abused and forced to scavenge at the dumpsite at the age of two. Three years later, he sustained burns on his arm and back, which forced him to run away and look for help. He has transformed his own experiences into a drive to help other street children and inspire them to change their own lives.
Kesz: “My message to all children around the globe is; our health is our wealth! Being healthy will enable you to play, to think clearly, to get up and go to school and love the people around you in so many ways. To everyone in the world, please remember that every day, 6,000 children die from diseases associated with poor sanitation, poor hygiene, and we can do something about it! Please join me in helping street children achieve better health and better lives.”
Gifts of Hope
For his seventh birthday, Kesz didn’t want any presents for himself. Instead, he wanted to give something to other street children: Gifts of Hope. That same year, Kesz started his own organization, Championing Community Children, aimed at giving street children hope and showing them that they can take their future into their own hands. Every week, he and his friends go to underprivileged communities to teach children about hygiene, food and children’s rights. He even takes things a step further, by teaching children how to teach each other. He has so far helped more than 10,000 children in his local area.
The ceremony
During this eighth award ceremony for the International Children’s Peace Prize, specific research into the winner’s theme was presented for the first time. Ton Liefaard, Professor of Children’s Rights, focused on the findings of the first “KidsReport” titled: “Street Children Have Rights Too!”. The report emphasises that the rights of street children are still being trampled on.
Kesz was presented with the prize by Desmond Tutu, the patron of KidsRights and the International Children’s Peace Price. According to Tutu, Kesz is a deserving and inspiring example of “a new voice for the voiceless”. Kesz was presented with the Nkosi, a unique sculpture which shows how a child can move the world. The sculpture symbolises the impact of the International Children’s Peace Prize: in recent years, millions of people have become aware of the prize, which offers Kesz a global platform to make his voice heard and tell his courageous story.
The ceremony was concluded with a special announcement by Mayra, who won the Children’s Peace Prize in 2008. A confrontational video message marked the launch of the Remember2015 movement, an initiative of KidsRights to breathe new life into the Millennium Development Goals of 2015 for children.
23 Comments
Congrats KESZ!
Worthy to become the modern hero of Philippines!
God Bless!
Mabuhay Kesz! We are so proud of you. Makabagong bayani ka nga =) Again, congratulations!
I hope that you will become a model not only to the young Filipinos but to every Filipino in the world. We are proud of you!
Congratulations, Kesz! You have proven that children can make a difference. Children are agents of transforming communities. You made the Filipinos proud again. To God be the glory!
The Filipino people are mighty proud of Kesz. He is an inspiration to every street children who, like him, has been through a lot of hardships in life as a child. Young as he is, he has proven to everyone that a child can dream big and realize that dream by sheer determination and a lot of help from benevolent people whose goal in life is to help shape the future of the less privileged children like him. Kudos to you Kesz and to the people who support you and your cause.
MABUHAY KA, KESZ! I am so happy and proud of you. And I am so happy for the GIFT of HOPE for our streetchildren. Kaisa ako sa mga mithiin mo. God bless you always!
Proud to be a Filipino. Thank you Kesz and God Bless.
Inspiring and challenging are his tiny works. a victim of poverty himself, he was still able to give out of the meager that he had. We must all learn from this young filipino. Saludo ako syo!
wow!! congratz Kesz,, we your kabayans so much proud of U,, Godbless,, Congratz!!!!
Proud to be a Filipino. Mabuhay ka Kesz! Sana marami pang batang kagaya mo in the future!
Wonderfull child!
May this Children’s prize changes adults attitudes and politics forward more social responsabilities.
‘Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom’.
This statement was made by Nelson Mandela in 2005.
Congratulations Kesz! Continue to inspire us! God bless you! Mabuhay ka!
Congratulations Kesz!You are such a great young kid!Your winning advocates the importance of saving the lives of children in the streets who one day are the good leaders of our country.
The first time I’ve seen the story of Kesz in television program in Philippines called T3, I can’t help not to cry because I was touched by his story at a young age. I am so proud and happy that here in The Netherlands they recognized all your love and effort to help other children in need. Knowing that he was the winner of the children’s peace prize makes me cry more. We are so proud of you Kesz! You are an inspiration to us!
The youth is the pride of our nation…
I salute you, Kesz! Young but man in mind, heart and soul.
Congrats Kesz!!! Once again you prove to the world that there’s a hero within in every Filipino. Your life is an inspiration to many people not only to children. I’ll let my pupils know your life and your goodness so that they too may be motivated to follow your examples. And I myself will continue to take the same path of helping other people especially the less fortunate in ways God wants me to do. Keep up the good work!!! May God richly bless all your endeavors and mission in life! Mabuhay ka at ang bawat Pilipino!!!
To God be glory because of you Kesz! Congratulations!
This is a fact that God loves the children, and you Kesz is God’s gift to them.
We are all very proud of you. God bless you more as you continue to bless others.
Congrats NEW HERO
XD:
Congratulation Kesz, nice to hear your story. Hope you’ll be an inspiration to others to be unselfish and find ways on how to help others in little way possible.Keep it up.Hope your country will also recognize your effort.
May you be blessed ever more as you have blessed others!
Congratulations Kesz, keep up the good work.
Congratulations Kesz. U’re truly an inspiration. Go Pinoys
May the God of Kesz be blessed forever more! It’s good to help the children to grow in other for them to meet up with their goals. This not only helping the children but also helping the motherless once!
Congratulation Kesz