Brac founder and chairperson Sir Fazle Hasan Abed has been awarded the Leo Tolstoy International Gold Medal by The Russian Children Foundation (RDF) on the occasion of International Children’s Day on Sunday, says a press release.
He received the award at Moscow’s historic Bolshoi Theatre after a Gala concert for orphan, disabled and disadvantaged children where he was present as the Guest of Honour.
The award was bestowed upon Abed by RDF leader and noted writer Albert A Likhanov.
Upon receiving the award, Abed said: “I thank the Russian Children Foundation for the honour they have shown me and Brac. Brac has been focusing on empowering people and creating opportunities through education for the last three decades. I have great appreciation towards the work of the foundation by which they are protecting countless underprivileged children in Russia.”
Every year, RDF awards this medal to an outstanding humanist who has made a significant contribution to the education and care of children. Previous awardees include Mother Teresa, Albert Sabin (inventor of the oral polio vaccine), and Swedish children’s writer Astrid Lindgren.
RDF, which is the country’s first public organisation for the protection of children, was formed in September 1991. It currently has 74 regional offices actively working to provide social assistance for needy children in Russia in cooperation with public authorities, businesses and other community organisations.
Brac, established in 1972, is a development organisation dedicated to alleviating poverty by empowering the poor, and helping to bring about positive changes in their lives by creating opportunities for them.
So far its activities have touched lives of an estimated 135 million people all over the world.
