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The World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child 2003:
Maggy Barankitse
Maggy hugging Dieudonné
Maggy Barankitse and 7-year-old Dieudonné hug each other. Dieudonné is one of the many children in war-ravaged Burundi that Maggy has helped to a better life.

It began when she saved the lives of 25 children in 1993. Since then, she has helped over 10,000 children. They have received food, clothing, medical care, a home, the chance to go to school and… love!

> Meet Maggy
Why has Maggy been awarded?
Maggy Barankitse received The World's Children's Prize 2003 for her ten-year-long struggle to help children in war-torn Burundi.
Maggy Barankitse has been nominated for the World’s Children’s Prize and the Global Friends’ Award 2003 because of her 10-year-long struggle for children’s welfare in Burundi. Maggy has directly saved the lives of 25 children and helped over 10,000 children to a better life. She builds villages where orphaned children can grow up in ‘families’. They get food, clothing, medical care, schooling, homes… and love! She helps children from all the peoples and religions of the country and teaches them that they are equals. She also helps poor children in neighbouring villages, and shows that people in Burundi can help one another. Maggy takes risks when she points out that Burundi’s politicians, army and rebels violate children’s rights.
Radio
My favourite possession
Children from Burundi tells about their finest possessions.
Benjamin's favourite possession is his family’s radio.

> My favourite possession
portrait Lysette Irakoze
Lysette fights
’I got a new start in life thanks to Maggy. She saved my life. Now she and the others at Maison Shalom are my family,’ says Lysette. In spite of everything bad that’s happened, Lysette still fights for the rights of the child.

> Meet Lysette
portrait Benjamin
Benjamin was kidnapped
When Benjamin went to school that day, he thought it would be a completely ordinary day.
His sixth-form class had been in session a half-hour when he and his classmates heard voices outside. When they looked out the window, they saw that the schoolyard was full of armed soldiers, maybe a hundred of them. Benjamin saw that they were rebels who fought against Burundi’s army...

> Meet Benjamin
portrait Justine Bimenyimana
When Justine was 13, civil war broke out in Burundi. It was 1993, and Justine’s family had sought shelter with Maggy at the Bishop’s Manor. But one morning just after breakfast, the Manor was attacked by hundreds of armed men. Justine and everyone in the house panicked and fl ed, looking for a place to hide...

> Meet Justine
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