November 19, 2005
Renaissance Jaragua Hotel
Santo Domingo, Dominican Repulbic

Master of Ceremonies	Dr. Noel Brown President, Friends of the United Nations Chair, Awards Committee, WANGO 2005
Awardees	WANGO Education Award 2005 Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana Received by: Shantilal G. Muttha, Founder WANGO Humanitarian Award 2005 Ladies Charitable Society Received by: Shima Mofid, Chief Administrator Farhat Mehdizadeh, International Affairs Coordinator WANGO Society & Health Award 2005 Hogar Crea Dominicano Received by: Leopoldo diaz Henriquez, President
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Awardees	WANGO Peace & Security Award 2005 Roots of Peace Received by: Heidi Kühn, Founder WANGO Century of Service to Humanity and Society Award 2005 Rotary International Received by: Mr. Serge Gouteyron, Vice President
	Past WANGO Award Winners

Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS) is a non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian, voluntary organization that tackles challenges in India related to social reforms, traditions, community development, disaster management, and especially education. It was established in 1985 by visionary social reformer Mr. Shantilal Muttha.

BJS's education wing, the Federation of Jain Educational Institutes (FJEI), is dedicated to excellence in education. Over 1,800 educational institutes across India are within its network. The Federation is revolutionizing the face of primary education in India by creating and implementing innovate training programs for not only students and teachers, but also the trustees of educational institutions.

FJEI's Trustee Training Program and Fast Track Program illustrate two of its educational innovations. FJEI's Trustee Training Program provides educational institutions with a scientific system for accreditation; creates teacher training modules; contributes to student character building through moral and value education, career guidance, and integrating co-curricular and extra curricular activities for holistic development of the child; introduces multimedia based teaching aids; among other initiatives. FJEI's Fast Track Program is a pilot program introduced by FJEI in 25 select institutes across India. It prepares the selected schools as role models for the remaining schools in the network by implementing its entire range of capacity building and quality improvement programs.

In addition to education, BJS has accomplished much in the area of disaster relief, often coupled with the rebuilding of the educational infrastructure. There are several thousand BJS workers and volunteers spread across India that can mobilize quickly in response to crises. BJS and its workers and volunteers helped with relief efforts after the Gujarat Earthquake, the Latur Earthquake, and the Tsunami that hit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, among other disasters. Volunteers have reached affected areas within hours of the tragedies, tons of relief materials have been brought to the scenes of destruction, hundreds of schools have been rebuilt, food, shelter and medical aid provided, and primary health centers established.

In addressing natural disasters, BJS starts with immediate relief and rescue measures, minimizing the loss of human lives and property. However, BJS's main focus is on permanent rehabilitation projects. In 2001, when the massive earthquake hit numerous villages in Bhuj, Gujarat, 368 schools were rebuilt, erected from the rubble in a record time of 90 days. The leadership of BJS lived for almost 3 months in tents for the rehabilitation work. Out of the Latur earthquake, the Wagholi Educational Rehabilitation Centre was created, to care for 1000 orphans and destitute children affected by the earthquake, including providing educational and vocational training. In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands affected by the recent Tsunami, BJS reconstructed damaged schools.

The BJS has also been involved in peace efforts. After the volatile BabriMasjid-Ayodhya Temple issue in 1993 and ensuring communal riots that crippled India, BJS mobilized its supporters for the restoration of peace in interior Maharashtra. In an effort to restore peace during the Mumbai riots, BJS founder Mr. Muttha organized a very successful peace march from Pune to Nagpur, which involved religious heads of various faiths and eminent personalities.

BJS's Founder President, Mr. Shantilal G. Muttha, was a major entrepreneur who became a social transformer. He is an individual of whom it has been said in the media that he "built up his own empire(both of business and social service) from virtually nothing." For the past 20 years and more, he has ploughed a major portion of his company's profits into the BJS.

In taking the decision to present Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana with the 2005 Award for Education, the WANGO Awards Committee and the WANGO International Council were most impressed with the innovative ef fort of BJS to keep the educational sector in pace with rapid development changes and BJS's conviction that education goes beyond only academic knowledge to also include an understanding and adoption of human values in terms of moral, ethical, spiritual and social components. The creation of the Federation of Jain Educational Institutes is helping to reorient educational institutions to ensure that they are in tune with today's world, and provides a synergy so necessary for development. BJS's broad approach, working with the many varied stakeholders, including students, teachers, parents, educational institutes, and the various government authorities, is commendable. Furthermore, BJS has exhibited a unique social empathy and deep understanding of the impediments on the path of development as it carries on its work, which also includes disaster relief and the rebuilding of educational institutions and lives. For all of these reasons, the World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations is delighted to present Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana with the 2005 WANGO Education Award.

The Ladies Charitable Society (LCS) was founded in 1973 by Mrs. Ashraf Ghandehari and a group of dedicated, philanthr opic women who decided to coordinate their humanitarian efforts. Headquartered in Tehran, Iran, the LCS began with only a handful of members, but today include 2,000 dedicated members and volunteers inside Iran and overseas, with branches established in London, Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle, and Toronto.

The LCS's principal service is in volunteering their time, energy and money for the Kahrizak Charity Foundation (KCF), a private, non-governmental, charitable organization, which operates the Kahrizak Center for Living, Education and Rehabilitation of the Disabled and the Elderly. Here physically handicapped or elderly individuals with no financial resources are cared for, free of charge. The Kahrizak Center is considered by many to be the largest and most advanced center of its kind in the Middle East. Started in 1971 with just one patient and one room, it has grown to a city within a city: a 1600-bed, 400,000-square meter, state-of-the-art center, the like of which may not exist anywhere else in the world. This is a center where the coexistence of generations has been made possible, with the very young, the young, and the old living together. The LCS members and volunteers provide care to the residents of the KCF Center, taking pride in creating a living environment replete with care and affection for the residents that alleviates the pain of being away from home and family. Every week, about 700 volunteer women from LCS commute to the KCF center to offer their services to the residents. They also offer extensive cultural, art, and educational services, spearhead construction and development activities, and raise funds.

The LCS also founded and operates the "Home for the Mother and Child." This was established in Roodbar, Gilan in Iran, after the devastating earthquake of 1990. Established to coordinate the activities of the LCS regarding the victims of that disaster, the Home for Mother and Child assumed responsibility for care of 550 children orphaned by the earthquake. Parentless children are supported and sponsored by Home for the Mother and Child until they become self-sufficient adults. There is provision of monthly allowances and daily necessities for sponsored families; school and clothing costs are covered; construction and restoration of homes is undertaken; and developed was the Seyed-Al-Shohada Cultural Complex (including technical/vocational schools for boys and girls, library, amphitheater, girls and boys dormitories, sports grounds and gymnasium hall, dining hall, and prayer hall); as well as other projects.

The latest commitment of the Home for the Mother and Child is the "Children of Bam." In January 2004 when a ferocious earthquake hit the city of Bam, the Home for the Mother and Child was one of the first relief groups that arrived at WANGO Humanitarian Award 2005 the epicenter of that horrific tragedy. Here they launched the same project as in Roodbar and so far have taken 400 orphan victims under protection.

In taking the decision to present the Ladies Charitable Society with the 2005 Humanitarian Award, the WANGO Awards Committee and the WANGO International Council were most impressed with the sacrificial service of the womenin this society, who exemplify the remarkable tradition of charity through zakat and sadaka. Their service to needy individuals and to the nonprofit organizations that help them, and their donations of time, money and goods for a worthy cause, at great personal sacrifice, is an example that needs wider exposure, as an example for others. For such reasons, WANGO is honored to be able to present the Ladies Charitable Society with the WANGO Humanitarian Award 2005.

Hogar Crea Dominicano is a Dominican non-governmental organization, founded in Santo Domingo in 1975 by Leopoldo Diaz Henriquez, the NGOs current president. Hogar Crea Dominicano deals with treatment, prevention and research related to the consumption of psychoactive drugs. Its programs are open to all those who are addicted and need a helping hand, regardless of social class, politics and economics, and regardless of type of drug problem.

Originally, Hogar Crea Dominicano was dedicated solely to the treatment of drug users. Over time, however, it expanded its operations to include other aspects related to the reduction of demand, such as prevention, assistance and research.

Hogar Crea Dominicano's program of treatment began in Santo Domingo, where a group of youth was initiated in the process of rehabilitation, with the hope of arriving at a healthy life style, free of drugs. Since then, over its 30 years of existence, Hogar Crea Dominicano has treated thousands of cases, and has rehabilitated an average of 565 individuals per year. This institution operates 35 treatment centers (33 male facilities and 2 female facilities), distributed throughout the Dominican Republic, with a population average of 1,500 people. It is significant that Hogar Crea Dominicano has reintegrated into society more than 16,000 people, as useful and responsible citizens. From its humble start, Hogar Crea Dominicano now has an annual budget of 4.3 million dollars, and employs 100 direct employees, 48 professional and technical volunteers, and 1,200 volunteers.

The internal treatment program of Hogar Crea Dominicano has as its core belief that it will be dir ected and implemented by ex-addicts with the help of professionals. Essentially, it helps others by working with individuals who have gone through a similar process, and those whose hands, in the role of therapists or peers, can recognize the fundamentals of the process. This process was inspired by self-help groups, based on the strategy of Comunidad Terapeutica, which strives for an environment free of drugs and corruption. This concept has its origins in the 1950’s in the hospitals of the United Kingdom, and was further evolved in the United States during the decade of the 1970’s as a model of structured intervention.

The program of residential treatment of Hogar Crea Dominicano has one of the highest indices of effectiveness in the world. For this reason, it has become an international and national model, used by various programs in countries such as Colombia, Chile, Curazo, Aruba, and so forth.

Society suffers in many ways from the use of drugs. Impacted are the family of the addicts, the friends, the environment, the work center and employer, the addict's own body, and society in general, via violence and economic impacts. When such can be prevented, there are incalculable benefits.

In taking the decision to present Hogar Crea Dominicano with the 2005 WANGO Society & Health Award, its inaugural award in this category, the WANGO Awards Committee and the WANGO International Council were impressed with the exceptional service that this organization is providing for the Dominican society, and for those impacted by drug addiction, including families, friends and colleagues. Mr. Leopoldo Diaz Henriquez and its staff and volunteers are to be commended and recognized for setting a standard that has become an international model, and making the world a better place, more fit for children.

Roots of Peace is a humanitarian organization dedicated to eradicating landmines worldwide and rehabilitating the land to make it productive once more. Its vision of turning "Mines Into Vines" seeks to restore the promise of hope and prosperity to afflicted communities throughout the world.

Landmines are in many ways the perfect terrorists—they can wait almost indefinitely for their victims and require nothing to maintain them. Since 1862, when the first landmines were used in battle during the U.S. Civil War, these unseen enemies have claimed the lives, limbs and land of millions of innocent people all over the world. Today, there are an estimated 70 million landmines lying in wait beneath the earth’s surface in over 70 nations. Each year they maim or kill approximately 26,000 people, mostly women and children.

Essentially, Roots of Peace removes the hazard of landmines and unexploded ordinance from the soil. It then works with international agencies and the private sector to revitalize the country’s agricultural sector, bringing demined land back into productive agricultural use. As part of these efforts, they also work to demine and rebuild roads, schools, irrigation canals and even playgrounds, as every child needs a safe place to play.

The successful removal of landmines is dangerous and expensive work. It costs only $3 to $30 to produce and plant a landmine, but up to $1,000 to remove one. Many mines are made of non-metallic material, making them impossible to locate by metal detectors. Consequently, specially trained mine-sniffing dogs and other slow, costly methods are commonly used to map minefields. The actual removal of the landmines can in many cases be done using large remote-controlled flail tractors that can cover every inch of ground and withstand the blast when the mine is detonated. In rocky areas, removal is done by carefully probing and digging out the mine by hand—a painstaking and dangerous procedure. New technologies are also in development to try and revolutionize the global demining effort.

Founder Heidi Kühn became gravely aware of the landmine crisis upon the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997. Motivated by her own appreciation for the gift of life and the Princess’ compassion and commitment to global demining, Ms. Kühn began Roots of Peace in honor of Diana’s memory and to ensure that her work would continue.

Roots of Peace is working to implement a comprehensive and lasting solution - one that not only removes the mines, but also restores the land and livelihood of the local community through sustainable agricultural use. The four fronts involved are: (1) awareness (educating the public); (2) removal; (3) treatment of victims with physical, psychological and social treatment; and (4) restoration of the land to productive, environmentally responsible, and sustainable agricultural use.

Roots of Peace has been active in many areas, including Afghanistan, Croatia, Angola, Cambodia and Iraq. In Angola, they worked at demining ancient elephant routes. In Afghanistan, the farms created on demined lands yielded large crops of grapes, and shipping of fresh grapes from Kabul to Delhi created history as the first cold storage shipment from Afghanistan.

Heidi Khun's daughter, Kyleigh Kühn, 17, also founded Pennies for Peace -- Making Change Work, a student-to-student humanitarian program inspiring students to organize their schools' student body to collect pennies and spare change for converting minefields into safe schools and playgrounds in war-torn countries.

In taking the decision to present Roots for Peace with the 2005 Peace & Security Award, the WANGO Awards Committee and the WANGO International Council were impressed not only by the effort of Roots for Peace to eradicate landmines, but to complete the healing process by returning the land to the people from whom it was taken. Focusing on farming, because agriculture is integral to the way of life in many landmine-affected areas around the world, Roots for Peace’s innovative "Mines into Vines" effort creates a harvest of hope for communities in landmineaffected communities. As they note: "The grape vine is a symbol of celebration for the 'gift of life.' Whether the juicy nectar of fresh grapes, raisins, or a fine bottle of wine— the bountiful harvest represents the seeds we have in common rather those that separate us. The vine is an ancient metaphor for peace—transcending religions and political borders. Converting 'Mines to Vines' helps innocent farmers and families avoid a lethal harvest of bloodshed for future generations." It is because of this spirit that Roots for Peace has been selected for the 2005 WANGO Peace & Security Award.

One hundred years ago, on February 23, 1905, the world's first service club was formed. This was the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, established by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The name "Rotary" derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices. Rotary's popularity spread throughout the United States in the decade that followed; clubs were chartered from San Francisco to New York. By 1921, Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents, and the organization adopted the name Rotary International a year later. Today, 100 years later, there are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belonging to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs located in 167 countries.

A worldwide organization of business and professional leaders, Rotary provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world.

As Rotary grew from its early years, its mission expanded beyond serving the professional and social interests of club members. Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve communities in need. The organization's dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its principal motto: "Service Above Self." Rotary also later embraced a code of ethics, called The 4-Way Test, that has been translated into hundreds of languages.

In 1985, Rotary made a historic commitment to immunize all of the world's children against polio. Working in partnership with nongovernmental organizations and national governments through its PolioPlus program, Rotary is the largest private- sector contributor to the global polio eradication campaign. Rotarians have mobilized hundreds of thousands of PolioPlus volunteers and have immunized more than one billion children worldwide. By 2005, Rotary’s target date for certification of a polio-free world, Rotary contributed half a billion dollars to the cause.

Rotary's polio eradication effort continues to this day. In July, close to six million children under the age of five were targeted during a crucial round of national immunizations against polio in all of Sudan's 26 states. About 40,000 volunteers, including members of the country's only Rotary club, the Rotary Club of Khartoum, went to great lengths, sometimes riding on camels and donkeys, to reach children in hard-to-access regions, where roads are practically nonexistent as a result of 22 years of war and economic decline. In September, Rotary began a campaign aimed at immunizing tens of millions of children in polio-endemic South Asian countries.

In recent years, Rotary worked to meet the changing needs of society, by expanding its service effort to address such pressing issues as environmental degradation, illiteracy, world hunger, and children at risk. Most recently, Rotary clubs WANGO Century of Service to Humanity & Society Award 2005 throughout the world have been active in the disaster relief efforts, including the recent Pakistan earthquake; working to build bonds between India and Pakista;, and delivering famine relief to Niger.

The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster: (1) The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; (2) High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society; (3) The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life; and (4) The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

In taking the decision to present Rotary International with this special award, the Century of Service to Humanity and Society Award, the WANGO Awards Committee and the WANGO International Council were impressed by the remarkable spirit of service that Rotary exemplifies, and the worldwide peace and goodwill that it helps to foster through its efforts. For 100 years, Rotarians have served others. They have invested their time and money for the sake of their communities, their societies, their nations, and their world, and for the sake of other communities, other societies, and other nations. And they have done this without seeking recognition, but simply because it is right. The motto of Rotary, "Service Above Self," followed for 100 years, exemplifies why Rotary has been selected for the WANGO Century of Service to Humanity & Society Award.

Past WANGO Award Winners

2002

WANGO Peace & Security Award
Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress

WANGO Education Award
African American Islamic Institute

WANGO Environment Award
Inuit Circumpolar Conference (Canada)

WANGO Human Rights Award
Bahrain Women's Society

WANGO Family & Peace Award
Institute for Responsible Fatherhood and Family Revitalization

WANGO Interreligious Cooperation Award
Bishop William E. Swing & United Religions Initiative

WANGO Universal Peace Award
Honoree: Prof. Dr. Federico Mayor Zaragoza

2003

WANGO Peace & Security Award 2003
Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP)

WANGO Environment Award
Green Belt Movement (GBM)

WANGO Human Rights Award
Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)

WANGO Universal Peace Award
H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

2004

WANGO Civil Society Development Award
Star Kampuchea

WANGO Family & Peace Award
United Families International

WANGO Environment Award
Buccoo Reef Trust

WANGO Peace, Security & Reconciliation Award
PeaceWorks Foundation

WANGO Humanitarian Award
Small Kindness

WANGO Universal Peace Award
H.E. Kenneth Kaunda