Nickole Evans  U.S.A. 1999 Wright-Dunbar Prize for Technology: Nickole grew up in a low-income area of Kennewick, in the center of Southeastern Washington State. Kennewick is a location, where immigrants and refugees often arrive when relocating to the United States. Since early childhood, Nickole welcomed and played with children from Nigeria, Ukraine, Mexico, Bosnia, and Kosovo. She has always been a natural peacemaker, resolving conflicts between her peers, working as a volunteer for local schools, non-profit organizations and the Arborwood Learning Center, where many immigrants and refugees take English classes. Over the past nine years, Nickole has averaged 20 hours a month volunteering. She has given hundreds of hours in the community working as a camp volunteer for developmentally disabled youth, stocking shelves at the food bank, cleaning up yards for senior citizens, playing games with residents at a nursing home and reading to young children.The turning point in focusing her volunteer attention on peace and non-violence came in February 1998, when she and her friend were shot with BB guns  by local Bosnian youth refugees. In spite of having been hurt, Nickole found the strength and courage to choose peace over retaliation, to reconcile with the families of her assailants to double her efforts in facilitating the adaptation of Bosnian youth traumatized by war to peaceful coexistence with others in her neighborhood.After this experience, it was only natural for Nickole to be trained in Dispute Resolution and Peer Mediation, which enabled her to help teachers establish programs aimed at crating Safe Schools and providing alternatives to youth violence. Her dedication to this issue led to her starting a local branch of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE). Nickole has not limited her help to her own service. She has an incredible persistence in convincing her friends, family and everyone she knows, to join in her endeavors. Nickole now uses her technological expertise to develop website ("Youth Speak Out" among numerous others) in which she shares her thoughts on the topics of violence, racism, religious wars and poverty. She participated in the on-line forum discussing those issues with other youth from 133 countries, as a part of The Junior Summit. One of the topic areas for the Summit was people's differences. Nickole wrote afterwards. " It helped me understand how the Mexicans, Bosnians, Ukrainians, etc. must feel when they come to America, and how they must feel when they are the only ones like themselves at school, or work.."Not only has she educated herself on how to use computer technology in pursuit of her goals, Nickole, with her unbelievable determination and resolution, teachers others techniques to us the Wed to advocate peace and non-violence. Nickole became a role model for other youth, encouraging them by example, to take action and help others. When asked about her-public recognition and media attention, Nickole said. " What is more important to me is I have gotten friends to help the community. The more of us that are helping others, the better our world will be." Her work is best highlighted on the website at http://www.y2kyouth.org.

Ibrahim Alex Bangura, age 16, Sierra Leone (Performing Arts) -Sierra Leone is the poorest country in Africa and has been torn apart by a rebel war for seven years. Before the war began, Sierra Leoneans mostly grew up in peaceful rural areas where the village community served as everyone's family. the communities were not armed and became easy targets for the rebels. In the war, women and children have been burned alive. Many boys and men were tortured and forced to become rebel soldiers or be killed. The national army was not strong enough to control the rebels, so people fled to the nation's capital city. Freetown, for protection, thus annihilating the peaceful rural societal structure. With no welfare available in Sierra Leone, families were left to survive in ever increasing poverty.In 1990,  two Sierra Leoneans attended the first conference of PEACEWAYS, USA - they returned home changed and determined to make a difference. They founded PeaceLinks Musical Youth - to be run mostly by young people, so youth of  Sierra Leone could work in ineffective and responsible manner to bring much needed changes in the areas of health, education, environment, community development and children's rights. PeaceLinks is now a group of Sierra Leoneans 12 to 24 years of age who write and perform music in public places preaching peace, tolerance and reconciliation. Ibrahim Alex Bangura joined PeaceLinks at age ten. He is now a leading member of the group. In 1993 Alex was the youngest person selected by his peers to attend a PeaceLinks/PEACEWAYS conference on developing leadership and conflict resolution skills. There he learned how to design and carry out community development projects, was educated about United Nations programs, human rights, and rights of the child. Alex has dedicated himself to PeaceLinker programs - helping UNICEF distribute oral rehydration packets during cholera outbreaks, recruiting young people for working in the national government environmental clean-up days, assisting in digging sanitation ditches and building shelters. Alex has educated others by leading workshops on cooperation and tolerance inside and outside schools. He has taught other children about United Nations' goals for world peace and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.Alex's current focus is on the rehabilitation of thousands of child soldiers who were brutalized by the rebels, many who were kept on drugs and brainwashed into dismissing the value of human life. By teaching the child soldiers songs about peace and tolerance. Alex is changing their value system to believe in peace. There is a second phase of this focus: to foster an attitude of tolerance within their society, so that once healed, the former child soldier can live free of debilitating hatred. He has been personally responsible for hundreds of young people to redirect their lives away from violence.   Alex's family is poor: he is forced to walk long distances to go to meetings, workshops and concerts because transportation is not available. He often goes without meals because food is scarce in Sierra Leone. He rehearses long, hard hours and returns home to many hours of homework to keep his excellent scholastic record. In May 1999 he led the performance of his band at the Global Hague Appeal for Peace Conference, witnessed by Kofi Anna, the Secretary General of the UN, and other world leaders. Alex facilitated several workshops and served as a panel speaker during both the proceeding UN of Youth Conference and the Hague Peace Appeal Conference. He is now a national figure in Sierra Leone and appears regularly on both radio and television advocating peace, tolerance and reconciliation.  SPECIAL NOTE: Alex was unable to attend the ceremonies being unable to get out of Sierra Leone. He was missed.

PostPessimists of Prishtina, ages 8 to 16. Kosovo (Social Activism) PostPessimists is a youth organization founded in 1995 by two 15-year-olds - a Kosovo Serb, Ivan Sekulovic, and a Kosovo Albanian, Petrit Selimi. This was a revolutionary movement in Kosovo , when Serbian and ethnic Albanian children did not even go to the same schools. The Prishtina PostPessimists organization was dedicated to demonstrating that youth of diverse ethnic background can work together to improve life for children in ethnically mixed environments. The PostPessimists reject ethnic divisions, prejudice and hatred so common in the Balkans in order to build bridges between various ethnic groups in the region. As an example of their projects, in the summer of 1999 the PostPessimists issued an appeal to all children and youth of Prishtina to unite and work together for the renovation of the Culture and Sports Center. The appeal was broadcast by both Albanian and Serbian radio stations, which on most matters oppose each other. Not any adult local organizations had dared to make the same announcement. They gathered over 600 children and youth for their project, which was accomplished with great success.

Leonora Shiroka, Age 17, President of the PostPessimists.  Leonora "Nora" Shiroka will be accepting the award on behalf of the PostPessimists group. Nora joined the group when she was 14 years old and became President last year at 16. One of the socially concious projects she has been involved with through the PostPessimists Group is CHILDREN TO CHILDREN, in conjunction with Children's Aid Direct. It is a project in which Nora and other members of the group go to high schools and talk with young people about alcohol and drug abuse, and family problems. Nora is also the guiding influence behind the GOLDEN HAND project. Nora organized this project for young refugees displaced from the war-torn zone of Drenica. They produce theater performances, artwork with paper, and computer workshops. It has been highly successful and often these young children a respite from the ravages of war that still surround them. In her short term with the group, Nora has spread a lifetime's worth of generosity and compassion.

Gerson Andres Florez Perez, age 13. Colombia (Literary Arts) - Gerson Perez is a 13-year-old boy with a mission to help the children of Colombia. Gerson is active in his homeland, in addition to speaking on behalf of the children of Colombia internationally. He runs a newsletter, gives talks and writes songs. At the age of 11, he wrote "Constructores de Paz" ("Builders of Peace"), a song inspired by the tragic deaths of a Colombian boy and girl who were killed by anti-personal landmines in 1997. All proceeds from the song are used to assist the rehabilitation of children hurt by Colombian landmines. In Gerson's own words: "In memory of children who do not have a voice, for those who have lost their lives due to mines, and for those whose fragile lives depended upon the actions of adults, I elevate to God my sorrow and to men and women my challenge to reach peace for my dear and suffering, but beautiful Colombia. In my constant desire to achieve this objective, I will encounter many barriers, but finally together with me, other children will come with equal or even greater desires to reach peace, and someday a door will open. In May 1999, Gerson attended the Appeal for Peace in Hague, The Netherlands, having raised the money himself by selling peace pins. He continues to try to raise money to purchase artificial limbs for children who have been injured by landmines.

Mircea Tancau, age 13. Romania (Fine Arts) - Mircea is a student at the Art School in Plojesti, Romania He started his artistic training when he was three. He now specializes in drawing, with the help of three teachers who are preparing him for a career as a fine artist. Mircea began his social service at age 11 as a volunteer at Save the Children Romania. In November 1998, he participated in an exhibition celebrating the anniversary of the UN Convention on The Rights of the Child. Through his art, he attempted to relate his understanding of the UN Convention to other children. In June 1999, during Romania's "Children's Rights Week," he participated in a campaign to increase the budget for children's-related issues (education, health, social protection). Mircea hopes that his art can serve as a contribution for a better world for all children. His art promotes a world without discrimination, without armed conflicts, a world where all children can pursue their dreams and express their own vision of the world around them.

Didier Kamundu, age 28, Congo (Leadership - Young Adult) - Didier Kamundu is a young activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a small shed with one desk, a few chairs and a manual typewriter in need of repair, Didier taps out letters to local authorities, urging action on behalf of illegally-held prisoners and torture victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kamundu founded Action Paysanne pour le Reconstruction et le Developement Communitaire (APREDECI), a human rights organization based in Goma, a town in eastern Congo's volatile North Kivu province. APREDECI works to protect the basic rights of victims of war in this politically and ethnically divided region. Most of them are peasant farmers and small traders who were displaced from their homes. Undeterred by lack of resources, Kamundu has documented rights abuses committed by the national army and local militias. Beyond that, he has petitioned for the release of political prisoners, secured medical care for torture victims, and collaborated on human rights reports. In the course of his work, he has emerged as a leading activist in one of the most troubled areas of the country. His tenacity and rare disregard for ethnic affiliation have earned him the trust and respect of both victims of human rights violations and the local and international human rights community.

Jason Crowe, age 13, USA (Media) - Jason Crowe lives in a small town in Indiana, but has deeply impacted the lives of young people and adults around the world. His vision and dedication have enabled him to make significant steps towards his goal of promoting world peace and harmony. Since he was nine years old, Jason has published The Informer, a "by-kids-for-kids" newsletter for young people, which is now distributed in 29 states and 15 foreign countries. In his own words; "In 1997 I heard the story of Vedran Smailovic, principal cellist of the Sarajevo Opera Orchestra1 who witnessed the massacre of 22 neighbors in a bread line during Sarajevo's ethnic cleansing. Vedran's response was to take his cello to the massacre site for 22 consecutive days and play while snipers fired. To me his musical harmony represented social harmony. I knew I had to convince the world the only answer to war is harmony." Jason organized a cello concert at the University of Evansville (4/97) to honor the war's victims and "Harmony in the Park" (5/97), a memorial and vigil attended by musicians, artists, humanitarians, writers, poets and students of all ages and religions. Jason wrote a poem, "The Cello Cries On," especially for the occasion, and the event attracted wide media attention. Since then, Jason's dream has been to raise enough funds to commission a statue of Vedran Smailovic to be shipped to Bosnia as a gift from kids everywhere. Through his tireless efforts, he has attracted the attention and support of celebrities such as Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Peter Yarrow, Irish folk singer Tommy Sands, rock artist Bono (U2) and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Through his newsletter, speeches and conventions, Jason networks with students and teachers worldwide who are studying Bosnia and causes of war. In 1998 Jason was selected by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to participate in the Junior Summit, an on-line international forum that engages children to solve world problems. In June 1998, Jason finished writing a book for children about the siege of Sarajevo, and has started a second book entitled Public Scrapbook of Courage, containing photographs, narratives and interviews and newspaper clippings focusing the courage of Bosnian children. Jason intends to donate the proceeds from the sale of both books to the statue project and humanitarian aid for Bosnia. For more information about Jason see My Hero web page.