Rev. Dr. Fred Nyabera, Director of Arigatou International’s End Child Poverty initiative, has been honored with the “2019 Spirit of the United Nations” award. The award is presented to members of the UN community including ambassadors, UN Staff, NGOs, and youth representatives, and recognizes efforts to uphold the founding spirit of the United Nations.
Rev. Dr. Nyabera was presented with the award on October 23, 2019, at a ceremony that is the highlight of the yearly celebration of the Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns in New York (CSVGC-NY), which ran from October 23 to 26, 2019. This year’s theme for the Week of Spirituality, “Spirit of the UN: The Call for a Life of Human Dignity – Reframing the Discussion on the SDGs and Agenda 2030,” highlighted the efforts made by the United Nations and its members to improve the lives of people everywhere through the adoption of the UN2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Through the Sustainable Development Goals’ emphasis on “leaving no one behind,” spirituality is gradually becoming a driver for equality and fairness, welcoming opportunities for dialogue that promote sustainable peace and development, including the protection of the dignity of every child. During the week, members of the UN community and the public participated in panel discussions, engagements, interactive workshops and artistic performances on various topics related to the theme. Each year, the candidates for the awards are submitted to the Executive Council of the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (NY), which decides on a highly selective roster of awardees.