“We must stay positive, stand up, and shine with our humanity. We must believe in these powers of compassion. Thank you. To have this compassion, I want to express my gratitude to our dear late Papa Vartan, whose spirit still guides us, to our Ruben, as we all pray for his release, to you, Noubar, for your energy and compassion.”

Watch the speech of Maggie Barankitse, founder of Maison Shalom and the inaugural Aurora Prize Laureate, at the 2024 Aurora Prize Ceremony. In her address, she expressed her gratitude for the transformative impact of the Aurora Prize and thanked its Co-Founders and supporters for their extraordinary contributions.