The annual Global Citizen Prize 2023 was awarded to five extraordinary individuals on Thursday, April 27, at The Glasshouse in New York City.
The ceremony, which took place during the Global Citizen NOW action summit, recognized unsung heroes who have made significant contributions to their local communities and the world at large.
Among the winners was Rwanda’s Ineza Umuhoza Grace, who received the award for her work in empowering women, girls, and frontline communities to achieve global climate justice.
As the Co-Founder of the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition and Global Coordinator, she has led efforts to address the negative impacts of climate change and advocate for concrete action from governments and the private sector.
Also recognized were Kenya’s Wangari Kuria, who founded Farmer on Fire Ltd to provide information and support to farmers in Africa, and Zimbabwe’s Nkosana Butholenkosi Masuku, a STEM teacher and entrepreneur who created Sciency Learning to offer practical STEM education to pupils in rural Zimbabwe.
The other two winners were Australia’s Gabrielle Williams, who fought for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers as a lawyer and social justice advocate, and India’s Ruchira Gupta, who has dedicated her life to ending sex trafficking and advocating for the rights of women and girls.
The Global Citizen Prize 2023 was presented by notable figures such as Sabrina Dhowre Elba, Chair of Global Citizen’s Europe Board of Directors and United Nations IFAD Goodwill Ambassador, and Erna Solberg, Former Prime Minister of Norway.
The ceremony also featured performances by Natasha Bedingfield, Chloe Flower, and Samara Joy.
The Global Citizen NOW action summit brought together government leaders, private sector executives, grassroots activists, cultural innovators, philanthropic experts, and leading journalists to address urgent issues facing humanity and the planet.
The summit provided a platform for meaningful conversations, commitments, and actions to drive progress towards achieving the United Nations’ Global Goals.
The Global Citizen Prize 2023 celebrates the impact of unsung heroes and highlights the importance of individual actions in building a better world for all.
