Bangkok Slum Organization Wins 1997 ESCAP HRD Award

United Nations ESCAP
HRD Section

Bangkok Slum Organization Wins 1997 ESCAP HRD Award

Award Presented to Winner during ESCAP's Annual Session

The Human Development Centre, a community-based organization working in the Klong Toey slums of Bangkok, has been selected as the winner of 1997 ESCAP HRD Award.

The Award was presented to the Centre on 20 April 1998 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok during the fifty-fourth session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). HE Mr Surin Pitsuwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, presided over the ceremony.

The ESCAP HRD Award was established by ESCAP to encourage exemplary achievement in human resources development. The special topic for the 1997 Award was: “Empowering the Urban Poor.”

An independent international jury selected the Human Development Centre as the winner of the Award because of its innovative programmes dealing with the diverse and immediate issues confronting urban communities. HDC had also been successful in working effectively with local authorities in dealing with urban issues. The approach of HDC could be a model for replication in other cities in Asia and the Pacific.

The Human Development Centre carries out various programmes in basic education, health care, and community development. Over the past 25 years, it has developed a kaleidoscope of community-based service activities comprising kindergarten schools, vocational training centres, community health care centres, women’s groups, savings and loans schemes, and shelters for street children and people living with HIV/AIDS. United through common goals, people of various religions work together in an environment respectful of each others’ traditions and beliefs.

A Catholic priest, Father Joseph Maier, is Director of the Centre.

The 1997 Award is being sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Korea. The winner will receive a cash prize of $25,000.

As first runner-up was selected the Underprivileged Children’s Education Programme (UCEP) of Bangladesh for its work dealing issues affecting underprivileged children.

The Jury further made special honorary mention of three more organizations.

The Coalition of Services of the Elderly, Inc., of the Philippines, received an honorary mention for taking up work to address issues related to the ageing population in the region. The Federation of NGOs for Mental Health and Well-being, of Sri Lanka, received an honorary mention for taking up work to address the stress associated with urban poverty. Finally, from India, the Socio-Legal Information Centre received an honorary mention for taking up work related to facets of law-related issues in the urban setting in an integrated manner.

The website of the Human Development Centre can be found at http://www.inet.co.th/org/hdc .

1998 Award | Background of the 1997 Award | Other features on the Award