Sir Fazle Hasan Abed from Bangladesh has been awarded the first WISE Prize for Education in recognition of his 40-year career dedicated to alleviating poverty through education.

A specially designed gold medal, bearing the word “education” in over 50 languages, was presented to Abed in Doha today (November 1) at the opening session of the third World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE).

Abed founded BRAC, formerly known as Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, in 1972 to address the humanitarian crisis, which followed the country’s struggle for independence from Pakistan.

Over the next four decades, he built the world's largest and most efficient NGO with 120,000 workers, based on the principle of empowering people to grow as individuals, to manage the welfare of their families and to contribute to their societies. Its learning and teaching activities now reach almost 140 million people in 10 Asian, African and Central American countries.

Under Abed’s guidance they have acquired the tools to set up their own micro -businesses, become health workers, or teach generations of children. To achieve this, he established and nurtured international networks of like-minded individuals, organizations and government institutions.

BRAC is also one of the largest non-government providers of education in the world, contributing directly to the pre-primary, primary and secondary education of more than 10 million students. It concentrates on bringing education to children and young people who are not reached by the traditional education system.

In his citation of the Laureate, WISE chairman Dr Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani said: “Fazle Hasan Abed’s life and career embody the values of WISE. He recognized that education is a passport to social inclusion and opportunity. He discovered a successful formula, and he adapted and expanded it – first in Bangladesh and then in other countries. As a direct consequence, millions of people around the world lead healthier, happier and more productive lives. His vision, resourcefulness and determination are vital ingredients of the innovation process and he stands as an example to all of us who believe that education, more than anything else, determines the destiny of individuals and societies. The Jury saw him as an ideal WISE Prize Laureate.”

In acceptance remarks, Fazle Hasan Abed said: “I should like to thank the Qatar Foundation for instituting this magnificent prize and for honouring me and BRAC with its first installment. I have discovered time and again in my four decades of work with BRAC that education is the fundamental catalyst for change.”
 
The establishment of the WISE Prize was announced at the closing of the last WISE Summit in December 2010 as a major accolade to recognise an individual or team for an outstanding, world-class contribution to education. In addition to the gold medal, the winner receives an award of $500,000. - TradeArabia News Service