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Comboni missionary awarded human rights prize
Rome, Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Fr. Shikolio John Webootsa, Kenyan Comboni missionary, has been awarded a French-German human rights prize for his work in one of the most overcrowded slums in the East African country, organizers of the prize said on Monday that Webootsa has been promoting education for youth, employment for women and legal aid for the poorest in the Korogocho slum for the past seven years.
"With this prize, we wanted to distinguish a person from the civil society, who is enthusiastic and dynamic, who works on the ground, far from the spotlight. Human rights is a legal, but also a social reality. It's the message that the jury wanted to send to Kenyans," said Etienne de Poncins, French ambassador to Kenya.
German ambassador Margit Hellwig-Boette for her part lauded his "extraordinary work for the most vulnerable".
Reached by telephone, Webootsa said that the prize "is a recognition of not just my work, but of all the work done for the people of Korogocho", located in the suburbs of Nairobi.
"What makes me happy about this prize is that it opens up the slum to the world. More and more people will be willing to give assistance to the slum," he added.
Fr. Shikolio John Webootsa. Photo Above, in 2008 in Nairobi, shows
Fr. John and leading residents from Korogocho in a walk for peace.