Kristine Pearson Awarded the 2005 James. C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award

Freeplay Foundation Executive Director Kristine Pearson has been awarded the 2005 James. C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award, bestowed by the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California and sponsored by Applied Materials, Inc.

Kristine is only the second person to receive the prestigious award, named after Jim Morgan, the noted humanitarian and chairman of the board of Applied Materials. The award was inspired by Mr Morgan who believes that technology transcends business and can be a tool to tap the potential in each of us, to turn ideas into solutions for a better world. It honours an individual or organisation whose broad vision and leadership on a global scale are helping society find solutions to some of the greatest challenges of humanity.

Mike Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Materials, presented the award. Kristine Pearson with her broad vision and leadership, coupled with Freeplays innovative technology, its creative application and the potential for replication in other countries, is changing millions of lives and solving critical challenges facing global society, said Splinter. It is fitting that she receive this prestigious award for her outstanding work in Africa and around the world.

The gala awards event in Silicon Valley on 9 November was attended by more than a thousand professionals from hi-tech industries, the development sector, business, international agencies and NGOs. The night also honoured the 2005 class of Tech Award laureates for Technology Benefiting Humanity. The Freeplay Foundation won the very first Tech Award in 2001 for her concept for the Lifeline radio. The Foundation used the prize money to pay for the research and development of the Lifeline. Less than a year and half later, Kristine launched the Lifeline radio in Tanzanian refugee camps and today almost 100,000 Lifelines are being used by an estimated two million people in 20 countries, mostly in Africa.

An observation by an attendee: In her acceptance speech, Kristine told the stories of several children living on their own without adult guidance, whom she has met in the course of her work. They included 14-year-old Jonathan Macumi from Rwanda and a little girl named Edna who is a domestic worker in Tanzania. She painted a vivid picture of the destitution and hardships these children face and how hard they work to make their lives better. Kristine spoke of her belief that as more people around the world step forward, the seemingly intractable scourge of poverty will be defeated, making a better world for all.

And in that vast ballroom in hi-tech Silicon Valley, more than one thousand people jumped to their feet in spontaneous applause, with tears in their eyes. The 2005 Global Humanitarian had inspired them to keep working, to persevere in making the world a better place.