Kathy Vandergrift was recently awarded the UNICEF Aldo Farina Child Rights and Advocacy prize in Barcelona, Spain.
The award recognizes outstanding contributions to child rights, advocacy, or education for development.
Vandergrift, a member of Calvin Christian Reformed Church in Ottawa, Ontario, is chair of the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children.
In that position, she has been instrumental in advancing protection for the rights of children caught in armed conflicts around the world.
She founded the international Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict and chaired the Canadian Forum on Children and Armed Conflict.
This award also recognizes her technical expertise in policy analysis and advocacy, her capacity to mobilize supportive networks, and above all, her commitment to and passion for advancing children’s rights.
“How a community or country respects the rights of its children is a barometer for the future health and sustainability of the whole community,” said Vandergrift upon accepting the award.
About the Author
Rachel Boehm Van Harmelen is a writer and consultant specializing in communications for nonprofit organizations. She and her husband, Peter, have four children and live in Fall River, Nova Scotia, where they attend All Nations Christian Reformed Church
