“Champion of Hope Award” for Khun Sompop
A TIME Asia Hero 2002 and a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Khun Sompop from Thailand, dedicated his life to save countless children from forced labor and prostitution in the Golden Triangle region in South East Asia. Born on to the streets and forced to beg for money, this remarkable man founded the Development Education Programme for Daughters & Communities (DEPDC) to shelter and educate 1,500 at-risk youth since its inception in 1989. He was honored at a reception by Project Hope International in Washington, DC in mid-October.