THE HAGUE— He lived in a rubbish dump and slept in an open tomb. The prize he won in the Netherlands will buy him not just a new bed but will improve the lives of many other young people like him. He has won a prestigious children’s award in for his work to improve the rights of his fellow street kids.
Cris Valdez, aged 13, was handed the 2012 International Children’s Peace Prize at a ceremony on September 19 at the Hague, where he received a prize money of 100,000 euros ($130,000).
A native of Cavite City, Valdez was chosen from three finalists for the work of his “Championing Community Children” charity which raises funds to hand out gift parcels to needy children in his hometown,
The young boy has handed out more than 5,000 gifts to destitute children that included everyday articles like flip-flops, toys, sweets and clothes, said the Kids Rights Foundation, the prize’s initiator. (Source: Inq.net)