KATHMANDU: Nepali social worker and Founder President & CEO of Solidarity International, Rajendra Gautam has been declared the Peace Hero Nepal 2019 by Peace Museum. He was recognized with the Award during Peace Hero Recognition Ceremony organized at Hotel Tibet International on 16th Feb, 2019 for his social contribution and dedicatedly working on communal peace, rural development and sustainable development in rural areas of Nepal.
He is the pioneer of “PROJECT HOPE – One Child, One Donor Sponsorship Program” that provides educational scholarships to more than 1000 underprivileged children each year in rural districts of Nepal. Till date more than 7,500 school going children have been benefited from this project. Currently, Gautam is dedicatedly working on several projects for communal peace, rural development, and sustainable development.
Besides, Mr. Gautam reconstructed 20 new schools in response to Nepal earthquake to benefit more than 2,500 school going children in five districts of Nepal.
Gautam had also won the “Change Maker Award 2018” by German Alliance, “Social Recognition 2017” by Ministry of Finance, “Youth Award 2016” by Nepal UK Development Trust, “Social Innovation Award 2015” by Nepal Switzerland Innovation Center and “National Peace Prize 2013” by Ministry of Peace.
Apart from Gautam, seven other renowned social personalities of Nepal such as CNN Hero 2010 Anuradha Koirala, CNN Super Hero 2016 Pushpa Basnet, Magsaysay Award Winner 2007 Mahabir Pun, Eye Surgeon from Nepal Sanduk Ruit, Media Person Rabi Lamichhane, Actors and Social Activists Sitaram Kattel/ Kunjana Ghimire, Peace Activist & UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador to Nepal Ani Choying Drolma had been nominated for the title.