On a global level, this year’s Nansen Prize recipient is Elder Martin Asia Sodea of Cameroon. Supporting Refugees: 2025 Nansen Prize Winners Announced Refugees and migrants
Ukrainian humanitarian workers, the founder of a school for refugees in Tajikistan, a village elder in Cameroon, the founder of a women’s organization in Iraq and a businessman from Mexico are the winners of the Nansen Prize for 2025. This was announced today by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The award ceremony will take place in Geneva on December 16. The award is awarded annually for achievements in the field of protecting the rights of internally displaced persons and stateless persons. It is named after the Norwegian polar explorer, League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Fridtjof Nansen.
“We must take care of each other”
“The Nansen Prize recognizes acts of exceptional courage and humanity,” noted the UN High Commissioner for Refugee Affairs Filippo Grandi. “This year’s honorees remind us that even in the darkest of times, we need to maintain compassion.” Their continued commitment to protecting and supporting displaced people is inspiring and reassuring. They embody the spirit of Nansen – the belief that every person forced to leave their home, no matter where they are, deserves dignity, security and hope.”
On a global level, this year’s honoree was Elder Martin Asia Sodea of Cameroon, a leader whose humanity and generosity have changed the lives of tens of thousands of people for the better. When refugees from the Central African Republic reached the village of Gado-Badzere, the local residents did not turn their backs on them. At the initiative of Sodea and his family, the community allocated land for those who arrived to live and farm, giving them the opportunity to get back on their feet. Through his leadership, the small village became a symbol of solidarity – based on the belief that people in trouble deserve support and a place to feel safe again. region. His message is simple but crucial: “We are all human and we must take care of each other.”
Regional Winners
Four regional award winners were also announced.
Proliska is a Ukrainian organization that provides life-saving assistance to more than 3.2 million people, often in the most dangerous and inaccessible areas of the country. After shelling and strikes, Proliska is often the first to come to the rescue, leaving no one without support.
Negara Nazari is an Afghan refugee and co-founder of the Ariana Learning Center in Tajikistan. As a graduate of DAFI, a UNHCR scholarship program, with a degree in economics, she chose a path aimed at helping others and created a school for young Afghan refugees left without access to education.
Pablo Moreno Cadena is a business leader from Mexico, who became an innovator in the field of refugee integration. As the head of MABE, one of the largest manufacturers of household appliances, he actively employs and supports displaced people. due to conflict and violence in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Shoresh family suffered as a result of genocide against the Kurds in northern Iraq, and it dedicated itself to helping people in the same dire situation.