Late Bishop Paride Taban has been named the 2023 Opus Prize Laureate Award at the Villanova University United States, to recognise his social entrepreneurship championing faith-filled change in Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron, VILLANOVA MEDIA reported.
The late Bishop Paride Taban who founded the Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron in South Sudan in 2005, was announced winner of this prestigious award by The Opus Prize Foundation and Villanova University in a ceremony on Thursday afternoon November 9, 2023.
According to The Opus Prize Foundation a private and independent nonprofit foundation that was established in 1994, eleven distinguished leaders from the Greater Philadelphia area representing arts, business, non-profit, faith, and civic communities, were named to the Opus Prize jury in which three finalists were selected based on the foundation’s values and principles and late Taban Paride emerged the winner
The annual faith-based humanitarian award is worth a one-million-dollar cash prize.
According to the report, Bishop Taban’s Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron will receive the one-million-dollar prize that recognises social entrepreneurship championing faith-filled change.
The deputy chair of the Board for Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron and State Minister of Health in Eastern Equatoria State, Doctor Margaret Itto received the award on behalf of the late bishop Paride Taban who died last week 1st November 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya after long illness.
While receiving the prestigious award, Doctor Magret reflected back to Bishop Paride Taban’s devoted services that he offered to Kuron Peace Village saying “his impact will be felt forever.”
“Although it saddens me deeply that Bishop Taban is not here with us, I am truly honored to accept this award on his behalf and help recognise the passion and devotion he gave to Holy Trinity Peace Village,” Doctor Itto said.
“He has impacted so many lives in Sudan through not only the founding of The Village but the continued love he provided to its community for almost 20 years. His impact will be felt there forever.”
The Villanova University President, Reverend Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD,
acknowledged Bishop Taban’s dedication to promoting peace and compassion for those in need, regardless of faith or background.
“Bishop Taban dedicated his life to promoting peace and compassion for those in need, regardless of faith or background,” said the Reverend Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, of Villanova University
“As an institution grounded in the values of Saint Augustine, who preached about the power of communities dedicated to love, Villanova University is immensely honored to celebrate the life and work of Bishop Taban, and to have the 2023 Opus Prize as part of his legacy.” Reverend Peter M. Donohue added.
Bishop Taban founded Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron in 2005 as a place for community of people from diverse backgrounds who have experienced conflict.
With a focus on conflict resolution and peace building, as well as agricultural training, education, health services, and food security, the Peace Village has allowed thousands of Sudanese affected by years of armed conflict and struggle in the North to flourish there in peace.
In the nearly two decades since the founding of The Village which has now become globally recognised for its peace building efforts in the region, Bishop Taban has received several prestigious humanitarian awards.