ArmInfo.On May 26, the American University of Armenia hosted an event in which four Aurora Award finalists Fartun Adan, Jamila Afganis, Dr. Tom Catena and Dr. Denis Mukvege talked about their activities and answered questions about their work.
The event was opened by the rector of the American University of Armenia Armen Ter-Kyureghyan, noting that only an educated person can help those who need help, he noted that this is why AUA is the most suitable place for holding such events.
The event was initiated by the founder of the "Aurora" award Ruben Vardanyan and the first winner of the prize Marguerite Barankits. The latter noted the ability of the award to teach people empathize. According to her, the refugees who she helps are very happy to help people from Armenia. In her opinion, these people feel the indifference of these people to their difficulties and grief, which makes them happy and gives the chance to continue to continue life.
American surgeon and missionary of the Catholic Church was the first who talked about his activities the only doctor of the hospital "Mother of Mercy" Tom Catena. He works in the Nubian Mountains of Sudan, where civil war has been going on for already 30 years. " People from all the region come to his hospital.Very important fact is the opening of maternity department in this hospital. Many women give birth at home, as not everyone has the opportunity to come to the hospital, but this hospital has significantly reduced the percentage of women's deaths, this is the only hospital in the district that conducts cesarean section. It is terrible every day to see people traumatized from the war. I hope that with the help of this prize we will be able to improve the conditions of our hospital, "said Katena.
Fartun Adan and her daughter Ilvad Elman are the founders of the Elman Center for Peace and Human Rights in Somalia. Their activities concern the protection of human rights and women's rights, peace consolidation, development and rehabilitation, taking part in the fighting of children is associated with constant danger. Adan was supposed to come with her daughter Ilvad Elman, but her daughter was forced to stay in Somalia, as she was negotiating about the children. She noted that their organization raises the issue of violence against women in the country, organizers of the Elman Center traveled around the country and saw many examples of violence against women. Very soon, women from all over the country began to turn to this center. "I really hope that this problem will be solved soon," Adan said.
Another nominee for the award is Jamil Afghan, chair woman of the Organization for Capacity Building and Development of the Nur Education System, a victim of childhood poliomyelitis, which now eradicates women's illiteracy and helps girls and women to get education and conducts educational work among Muslim leaders. Afghani was educated because she had a disability and her parents allowed her to go to school. "After my training, I realized what role education can play and how important it is that everyone has the opportunity to receive it," said Afghani. She began working with clergymen, explaining the importance of women's training, and very soon she was able to convince many of them of the need for women in education as well as men.
Next, Dr. Denis Mukwege said: "Initially, I was an obstetrician, but after I saw how the mothers of these children were suffering, I was re-trained in a gynecologist and began to help them, too," Mukwege said. He is a surgeon and gynecologist and the founder of the Panzi Hospital in the Congo, which provides physical, psychological and legal assistance to over 50,000 victims of sexual violence, as well as seeking to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
The 5-th finalist of the award - Muhammad Darwish - the doctor of the field hospital in Syrian Maday could not come because of the lack of necessary documents. He was a student and studied to become a dentist, but then returned to his hometown and began to provide the population with full medical care. Many of his patients are children affected by the ongoing armed conflict in the region. All this helped to draw public attention to the besieged city.
After presenting their activities, Aurora award finalists answered the questions, which were sent via internet and the most interesting ones were read.