This Award recognises significant contributions by individuals, organisations or projects in furthering peace, justice and reconciliation.
The Award focuses on grassroots initiatives. It enables otherwise often untold stories to reach a wider audience. By offering recognition, the Award hopes to inspire others to see what ordinary people can do to bring peace, justice and reconciliation where they are. It is open to all, irrespective of nationality, ethnicity or faith.
The Award is made annually in memory of two former Chairs of WPWP, The Revd. Gordon Wilson and The Revd. Sidney Hinkes. Both did much to promote both peace and interfaith participation.
Past recipients include those working with refugees, those involved in peace education, reducing tensions in communities, and direct work in conflict/post conflict areas.
In October 2024, the Award went to four quite amazing young Afghan women, who in different ways are working for education and development for not only themselves but others in Afghanistan.
2024-25 is the 50th Anniversary of the WPWP and funds are needed to continue this Award, as it includes a £500 grant for the recipient to use to further their work for peace. We are asking for a £50 (or more) contribution on the 50th Anniversary.
Donations can be sent by bank transfer or cheque to:
Cheques: Treasurer, WPWP, 36 Board School Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 5HE
Bank Transfer: A/C Name: The Week of Prayer for World Peace Bank: Lloyds, Bexleyheath Sort Code: 30-90-76
Account Number: 00049837 IBAN: GB62 LOYD 3090 7600 0498 37
If you know someone or an organisation that should be recognised, please email wpwp21@yahoo.com with details of the nomination.
Here are three past winners of this award:
| Issa Souf (2018) Issa Souf is a Palestinian who hosted and helped coordinate joint Israeli and Palestinian non-violent protest activities. With others, he founded the International Solidarity Movement, an organisation that encourages non-violent activists to come to the West Bank and to be witnesses to the realities of the occupation. In May 2001, Issa was shot by two Israeli soldiers. He survived but is now a paraplegic. On the third anniversary of being wounded he wrote an open letter to the soldiers who had wounded him. Since his injury he has supervised summer camps for children under the banner of ‘Love for life’ where the children are instructed in the arts, contemplation techniques and non-violence. He writes articles for various websites and continues to maintain relations with activists of the international solidarity movement and with Israelis who believe in Palestinian rights to their land. Issa’s Wilson/Hinkes Peace Award was made to recognise his continuing work, especially with children, and his uncompromising commitment to non-violence. You can read more about Issa here: | Takako Baker (2015) Takako Barker is Japanese woman who has lived in the UK for over 20 years. Described as ‘a lone, quiet worker for peace’, at school she says that she was taught that war is wrong and she has always believed this in herself. Working with the organisation Hope in the Heart, which has collected many of the stories of the Hibakusha (survivors of the atomic bombs), Takako brought a large exhibition from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to the UK and used it with the Hibakusha stories in various places, including the School of Oriental and African Studies. This action led Takako to her next piece of work which has been as a lone figure standing outside the Japanese embassy for one whole day a week for many months, protesting plans to change Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which prevents Japan from maintaining or using any military force. ‘Stand with a banner and it makes people curious’ she said. Takako used her Wilson/Hinkes Peace Award to further enhance the Hiroshima exhibition. You can read more about Takako here: | Sr. Elizabeth O’Donohoe (2018) Sr. Elizabeth O’Donohoe is a member of the Catholic congregation of Sisters of the Holy Cross. After many years of teaching and serving as a university chaplain, she re-trained as a psychotherapist and that has been her work ever since. She is a member of her parish justice and peace group and Pax Christi. On Remembrance Sunday each year Elizabeth invites Jewish and Muslim representatives to join the Catholic parish for a short interfaith service in the peace garden at St Mellitus. She takes part in public events such as the Ash Wednesday liturgy outside the Ministry of Defence. In the past two years Sr. Elizabeth has been working with other churches and faiths to welcome Syrian refugees being resettled in Islington. Together with an Anglican woman priest she has started a Christian-Muslim women’s group for sharing belief and scriptures. Sr. Elizabeth’s Wilson/Hinkes Peace Award recognised how an extremely modest, common-sense sort of person can accomplish much is supporting peacemaking at a local level. You can read more about Sr Elizabeth here: |