After winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is looking to pay it forward. It is being reported that he will be donating his prize money to a great cause.
According to BBC News, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has said that he will donate the money from the Nobel peace Prize to help the victims of the 52-year-old conflict in his country.
President Santos received the coveted award after reaching a peace agreement with the Farc rebel group last month. The deal was rejected just a few days later by Colombian voters in a referendum.
Santos made the announcement during a visit to Bojaya, the northwestern region of Choco, after taking part in a religious ceremony for people affected by the conflict.
"You symbolize the suffering of the victims of 52 years of war and are at the center of the solution to this conflict," he told a crowd in the largely impoverished town. "The victims have taught me that the capacity to forgive can overcome hatred and rancor."
About 260,000 people have been killed and more than six million internally displaced in Colombia.
“Last night, I met with my family and we have decided to donate those eight million Swedish krona $925,000 to the victims," said President Santos.
The head of the Nobel committee said that the award recognized Santos’ “resolute efforts” to end the conflict.
"The award should also be seen as a tribute to the Colombian people who, despite great hardships and abuses, have not given up hope of a just peace, and to all the parties who have contributed to the peace process," Kaci Kullman Five added.
The prize money will be awarded to President Santos on December 10, in Oslo, Norway.
He has dedicated the award to “all the victims of the conflict.”
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