Essl Social Prize 2011 - Prize Winners Almaz and Karlheinz Böhm
The Essl Social Prize 2011 goes to Almaz and Karlheinz Böhm for their unprecedented commitment in Ethiopia with their organisation Menschen für Menschen. In the last three decades the couple has managed to give the gift of a future to well over four million Ethiopians. The award ceremony will take place in the Vienna Hofburg on 26 March 2011.
Well-known actor Karlheinz Böhm founded Menschen für Menschen on 13 November 1981 and since then has devoted his life to the development of this remarkable social project. The basis of the aid for Ethiopia was DM 1.2 million (over EUR 600,000), which was collected after the legendary bet on the ZDF programme “Wetten, dass…?” in May of 1981. Since then the organisation has provided support for self-development in Ethiopia, which, according to the World Bank, is one of the poorest countries on earth. Since November 2008 Menschen für Menschen has been managed by his wife, native of Ethiopia Almaz Böhm.
In the scope of integrated rural projects Menschen für Menschen supports the people in the region. Projects in the areas of water, agriculture, health, education and infrastructure are carried out together. The organisation is also committed to improving the position of local women. The aim is to provide the people in Ethiopia with ways and means with which they can develop their country and improve their living conditions on their own.
Almaz and Karlheinz Böhm are receiving the Essl Social Prize 2011 for their commitment in Ethiopia. Together with the Essl Foundation, with the prize money Menschen für Menschen will develop a special project for the support of Ethiopia.
The Essl Social Prize is endowed with EUR 1 million and awarded once per year. Prize winners are social entrepreneurs who are distinguished for their life’s work. With the prize money their pathbreaking social project is developed further on a joint basis and realised in the form of a role model.
