Prince Talal :” Street Children Phenomenon” Is Most Hazardous, Due To Entwined Human, Social. Economic, Political And Security Dimensions

He called on Arab countries to follow Uruguay in peaceful power transfer and curbing corruption Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz, President of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) urged Arab countries to follow the Republic of Uruguay’s example, ” in democracy , social peace , and curbing corruption”. In his speech to AGFUND Prize ceremony in Montevideo, Description Prince Talal termed Uruguay “the wonderful country’” and said: “despite its small geographical area, the pioneering experience it achieved in social peace, is big. It has transcended the bitter years of fighting and strife. Uruguay is also big in its democracy, which has achieved peaceful transfer of power. Uruguay is big in its record in curbing and containing corruption, making it stable, and consequently continued high rates of development. We hope Arab countries follow the example of this rising country”. In Montevideo, with the presence of the Uruguayan President, José Mujica, International AGFUND Prize for pioneering development projects in the field of “Food security for the poor in 2012” was awarded. The ceremony was also attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz, members of AGFUND Board of Directors, members of the Prize Committee , Uruguayan Government officials, and a galaxy of development partners and media men.

Prince Talal stressed that AGFUND is keen to search success models, “and this Prize throughout its history since 1999, covered several areas of development. The Prize presented the world with impressive success stories in implementing development projects, and reaching them out to the beneficiaries”. He explained that the Prize stems from AGFUND strategy, reflects its mission and his policies in promoting balanced development without any discrimination between peoples. In the speech delivered by Prince Abdulaziz Bin Talal, he said: “In AGFUND, we are convinced of the feasibility of addressing developmental deficiencies, by incubating and disseminating models of success, being a heritage of humanity and a commonality of communities. In this perspective, AGFUND’s Banks of the Poor operate. In partnerships with businessmen, we establish these banks to address poverty with microfinance, which initially absorbs the poor in the financial process, and opens before them opportunities for productive work. Thus, microfinance becomes a real addition to the economy, and achieves positive social transformation. Prince Abdulaziz maintained that: “AGFUND Banks are now spread in seven countries, namely Sierra Leone , the Sudan , Lebanon, Yemen, Syria , Bahrain, Jordan , and very soon in Palestine and Philippines Uruguay may be part of system, if need and would meet”. His Highness indicated that: ” Humankind has never been, throughout its history, as it is today, with regard to rapprochement, and sharing hopes and pains of the peoples. Despite their differences, peoples are similar in encountered life problems. Poverty, disease and all that falls under development imbalances,have no nationality”.

The Prize Committee announced the three winning projects, from 53 projects coming from 37 countries in 4 continents, in the field of ” Food security for the poor”, were nominated for the Prize in four branches,. Managers of the winning projects were honored. The First Category Prize (US$ 200,000) was won by Gambia is Good (GiG). This prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations in the field of supporting the developing countries’ national policies and programs for a sustainable food security. The project is implemented in Gambia by the Concern Universal (CU) organization. The Second Category Prize (US$ 150,000) was won by the Increased water harvesting project. This prize is allocated for projects implemented by NGOs in the field of developing the skills and capabilities of the poor for food security in the poor communities. The project is in India by the Development of Humane Action Foundation (DHAN). The Third Category Prize was (US$ 100,000) won by the Village Food Resilience Program. This prize is allocated for projects implemented by Government agencies in the field adoption of pioneering programs, polices and best practices to achieve food security for the poor. The project is in Indonesia by the National Agency for Food Security. Montevideo city has witnessed the meetings of the Committee of International AGFUND Prize, where the winning projects for 2013 were announced under the topic: “Fighting the phenomenon of street children”. Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz explained that the issue of street children, chosen as topic of AGFUND Prize 2013, is a developmental concern for many communities. It is a crucial issue, for its entwined human, social, economic, political and security dimensions, being progressive increasing, and aggravating in developing and developed countries alike. His highness added that due to these factors, the phenomenon is compelling and attracts attention of those concerned with human development and human rights. Unreserved statistics estimate number of street children at more than 120 millions, including more than 60 millions in Latin America alone. Some Arab countries suffer proliferation of the phenomenon being self-expressive with hazardous consequences. His highness congratulated managers of the winning projects on “Street Children issue” saying that these projects present practical and pioneering experiences in dealing with the issue. “We are confident that these models will be a model for the many communities suffering from the repercussions of street children” he said.