JCI Manila and AY Foundation open the nominations for the 41st Saint Teresa of Calcutta Award
The act of charity is no easy work. Oftentimes, it requires a strong will and a dedicated heart to continue amidst the challenges that come with serving the underprivileged and marginalized.
In its 41st year of partnership, AY Foundation, a community development foundation, and JCI Manila, the oldest leadership development organization in Asia, have officially opened the nominations for this year’s Saint Teresa of Calcutta Award (STCA), which aims to recognize the individuals that have gone on an altruistic path.
“[Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s] life is a testament of love put into action and that action is service. A life dedicated to the service of not just the poor but the last, the lost, and the least… her life’s work inspired a movement around the world and for AY Foundation and JCI Manila, she continues to motivate us for 41 years in the search of the Filipino embodying her example,” said Vjohn Dizon, the STCA project chairman.
As the search goes on for the individual who will be receiving the award, Dizon said that this year’s theme will be “Elevating Lives through Selfless Service” and that they will be partnering with several universities to conduct awareness campaigns.
Actor Enzo Pineda, who also serves as an STCA project committee member and ambassador, said that his role in the campaign is to help in searching for the next awardee.
“This [project] is really close to my heart kasi I’ve been part of different non-profit organizations like World Wildlife Fund, World Vision, so ito po malapit sa’kin kasi po we are giving recognition to our unsung heroes who’s been in service for the past 25 years,” said Pineda.
The nomination is open for individuals of any age, gender, race, and religion as long as they have dedicated at least 25 years of humanitarian service to the underprivileged sector in the Philippines. The recipient of this year’s Saint Teresa of Calcutta Award will receive a plaque and a cash prize amounting to P1,000,000.
“I hope with this award we can inspire new ones and of course, for the ones that are existing, we can inspire them to keep on going,” said Pineda.
During an interview with the media, JCI Manila President Charles Matthew Gosingtian admitted that the hardest part about the search was finding someone who has at least 25 years of humanitarian activities to their name.
of Trustees Members Yvonne Yuchengco and Reynaldo Vea, and STCA Project Chairman Vjohn Dizon
“Marami sa mga winners natin usually more than 25 years ‘yan. But a lot of people stop kasi somewhere around 10, 15 years, 20 years… we’ve had years na hindi umabot sa 25 kaya may years na walang winners… we’ll make sure na may mahanap tayo this year,” said the JCI Manila president.
Nominations can be made by filling up the form on the Saint Teresa of Calcutta Award Facebook page: facebook.com/STCAward. The deadline for nominations will be on July 30 and the awarding ceremony will be held on Oct. 4.