A young man on a mission, Victor Ochen is no ordinary young man. At just 35, he is not only a two-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee but also making real difference in lives of people. He is our befitting Man Crush Monday candidate.
Victor Ochen was awarded the Peace & Reconciliation Award from the French and Germany government at the joint celebrations to commemorate the Franco-Germany Friendship Treaty which was held on Sunday at the French Embassy in Nakasero.
The French and Germany governments hosted the award giving ceremony in commendation to local Individuals and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) for their contribution towards peace and reconciliation especially to war-torn areas of the country.
Ochen, founder of Africa Youth Initiative Network (AYINET) Lira, was awarded the Franco-Germany Peace Award for his unwavering contribution towards promoting peace, unity and reconciliation in northern Uganda following two decades of terror from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
The awards were handed by France Ambassador to Uganda Stephanie Rivoal and Dr. Peter Blomeyer the Ambassador of Germany.
Ochen who is also the youngest African to ever be nominated for a Peace Nobel Prize, was born on 16th September 1981. He is a twin brother to Jackson Opio who is also a significant member of the peace organisation and whose peasant parents are of Lango ethnic tribe, from Lira district in northern Uganda.
Having been one of the victims of the LRA blood-bath that had tormented his community for decades, Victor embarked on a journey that has seen thousands of other victims dry their tears.
Based in Lira town, AYINET has become a human rights organisation with more than 30 staff, focused on providing practical support for people devastated by conflict.
The initiative’s major projects involve getting people into hospital for rehabilitative surgery and a youth leadership training development programme for young people who did not finish school because of the war. Ochen says at least 5,000 people have benefited from surgery.
Ochen is also a global ambassador to promote sustainable development goal number 16, which calls for peaceful societies.
Kudos!