![]() In front of the audience and a smiling Majesty, Desmond Tutu stands up before the Majesty and does a spontaneous dance of joy, unhindered by anyone. After yet another impressive speech by Desmond Tutu, a gospel choir performed the final song at the end of the ceremony. Here Desmond Tutu presents the Children’s Peace Prize to Neha Gupta from America for her work for children in disadvantaged neighborhoods in America and India. ![]() In 2014, with the arrival of Desmond Tutu and honored by the presence of King Willem Alexander, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Children’s Peace Prize. Desmond Tutu makes a “high five” with Kesz in front of the cameras of the world press and says slowly and poignantly to the audience and into the camera “Hey you oldies, listen to the children, listen to the children….and act!” In 2012 he presented the Children’s Peace Prize in The Hague for the second time to Kesz Valdez from Manila, who as a street child set up an organization for street children. After Mass, he turned to me with a mischievous smile on his face and lifted his chasuble (outer garment) to just above his ankles and showed off his bright red socks! That same Friday, I am invited to attend a mass in the chapel of Cape Town Cathedral, where Desmond Tutu presides before a small group of attendees. Chaeli presents Desmond Tutu with a pair of bright red socks and she says these are “happy socks” that I wear on Fridays. She advocates for the rights of disabled children. In 2011, I got to meet Desmond Tutu again in Cape Town on the occasion of Chaeli Mycroft from South Africa winning the International Children’s Peace Prize. Together with Gracia Machel, the wife of the late Nelson Mandela, he attended the conference and met the former president of South Africa, Frederik Willem de Klerk, whom he approached in a conciliatory manner. In 2010, Desmond Tutu opened the Millennium Development Goals Conference in Johannesburg, organized by KidsRights, from which the “Joburg call for action” for children’s rights towards the United Nations, emerged. Desmond Tutu addressed her and said “Just look, just look, there’s a little angel who comes and wipes the tears from God’s eyes.” He then lovingly consoled her after she burst into tears during her speech. In that year Desmond Tutu presented the Children’s Peace Prize in the Ridderzaal in The Hague to Maya Avellar from Brazil for her efforts to stop the violence in her slum in Rio de Janeiro. Since 2008, Desmond Tutu has been patron of KidsRights and the International Children’s Peace Prize. ![]() In 2005 this led to the launch of the International Children’s Peace Prize, not only to recognise children and young people who had courageously stood up for the rights of other children and had actually brought about change, but also, and above all, to provide a platform for them to spread their message so that they could be heard. This wise remark became the basis and essence of KidsRights, to give a voice to children, who are not or hardly heard. When I told him about my plans to establish KidsRights, he listened attentively and then said in his warm voice “….aah you want to give a voice to the voiceless”. The first time I had the pleasure of meeting him in his humble office was in South Africa in 2002. ![]() Words fail to describe the warmth, wisdom, love, faith and humor of this unique human being Desmond Tutu. ![]()
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