KISS Humanitarian Award

KISS Humanitarian Award
Established in 2008 by Professor Achyuta Samanta, the KISS Humanitarian Award is a prestigious international honor presented by the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences. The award, which includes a citation and a gold-plated trophy, recognizes individuals and organizations for their exceptional service to humanity.Its primary purpose is to acknowledge outstanding contributions to social issues while serving as a global symbol of hope and altruism. By celebrating significant leadership in fields such as poverty alleviation, healthcare, and education, the award raises awareness for critical global challenges and aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, it promotes core values of inclusivity and social responsibility, aiming to inspire others to follow a path of dedicated humanitarianism. Ultimately, the award seeks to transform the lives of the marginalized and encourage efforts that build a kinder, more equitable world for everyone.
| Sl | Name | Country | Flag | Year | Awarded For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Bill Gates | United States | 2023 | for his exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 15 | Rachel Chebet Ruto | Kenya | 2022 | for her exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 14 | Ratan Tata | India | 2021 | for his exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 13 | Ary da Silva Graça Filho | Brazil | 2020 | for his exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 12 | Dansa Kourouma | Guinea | 2019 | for his exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 11 | Dr. Muhammad Yunus | Bangladesh | 2018 | for his exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 10 | Dalai Lama | China | 2017 | for his exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 9 | Ashley Tyler Ciminella | France | 2016 | for her exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 8 | Alejandro Toledo Manrique | Peru | 2015 | for his exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 7 | Anne F. Stenhammer | Norway | 2014 | for her exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 6 | Albina du Boisrouvray | Myanmar | 2013 | for her exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 5 | Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley | Bhutan | 2012 | for his exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 4 | Nicholas Addison Phillips | United Kingdom | 2011 | for his exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 3 | Anerood Jugnauth | Mauritius | 2010 | for his exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 2 | Dr. Ham Ki-seon | South Korea | 2009 | for his exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development | |
| 1 | Bomo Edith Edna Molewa | South Africa | 2008 | for her exemplary and distinguished service to humanity, embodying compassion, altruism, and significant positive impact on global social development |

KISS Humanitarian Award Laureates (2030 ~ 2021)

Bill Gates
KISS Humanitarian Award 2023
Bill Gates (born 1955) is an American technologist, business leader, and philanthropist who co-founded Microsoft in 1975, sparking the personal computer revolution. As CEO, he built Microsoft into the world’s largest software company before transitioning his focus toward global humanitarian issues.In 2025, Gates remains a central figure in global health and climate action. He recently published his memoir, Source Code, and announced a historic commitment to donate 99% of his wealth to the Gates Foundation. Under his sole chairmanship, the foundation has pledged to spend $200 billion by 2045 to eradicate diseases like polio and malaria.Gates also leads Breakthrough Energy, advocating for a "strategic pivot" in climate policy that prioritizes human welfare and agricultural adaptation for the world's most vulnerable. Through his "pragmatic optimism," he continues to champion innovation—specifically in AI and clean energy—as the primary tool to solve the world's most pressing inequities.

Rachel Chebet Ruto
KISS Humanitarian Award 2022
Rachel Chebet Ruto is the First Lady of Kenya and a prominent advocate for women’s economic empowerment. Born in 1968 in Kakamega County, she is a trained educator holding a Bachelor of Education from Kenyatta University and a Master of Arts from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.She is most recognized for founding the Joyful Women Organization (JOYWO), a "table-banking" initiative that has empowered over 200,000 women across Kenya by providing access to credit and financial literacy. Through her broader "MaMa Doing Good" initiative, she champions three strategic pillars:Women Economic Empowerment: Expanding financial inclusion and market access for rural women.Environment and Climate Action: Promoting sustainable practices, including her "Mama Cycling" initiative and a goal to grow 500 million trees by 2032.Faith-Based Diplomacy: Hosting national prayer and values-based community programs.For her humanitarian work, she has received several honors, including the International Honorary Fellowship Award on Women Empowerment in 2014 and the KISS Humanitarian Award in 2022.

Ratan Tata
KISS Humanitarian Award 2021
Ratan Naval Tata (1937–2024) was an iconic Indian industrialist and philanthropist who transformed the Tata Group from a localized conglomerate into a global powerhouse. Assuming the chairmanship of Tata Sons in 1991, he spearheaded landmark international acquisitions, including Tetley, Jaguar Land Rover, and Corus Steel, establishing India’s presence on the world stage.His leadership was defined by "business with a conscience." While he championed bold innovations like the Tata Nano—the "people's car"—his true legacy lies in his humility and ethics. Despite his massive influence, he did not appear on global billionaire lists because nearly 66% of Tata Sons' equity is held by philanthropic trusts. These funds support critical initiatives in healthcare, education, and rural development, including a nationwide network of cancer care centers and the Small Animal Hospital in Mumbai.Ratan Tata passed away on October 9, 2024, leaving behind a legacy as India's "North Star" of integrity.

KISS Humanitarian Award Laureates (2020 ~ 2011)

Ary da Silva Graça Filho
KISS Humanitarian Award 2020
Ary da Silva Graça Filho (born April 23, 1943) is a prominent Brazilian sports administrator and former volleyball player. He is best known for serving as the President of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) from 2012 until 2024. Before leading the international federation, he held several key leadership roles, including President of the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (1997–2012) and the South American Volleyball Confederation (2003–2012).During his athletic career, Graça was a member of the Brazilian national team from 1963 to 1968, competing as an outside hitter. Professionally, he holds a law degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and is a member of the Brazilian Bar Association.Under his leadership, the FIVB expanded its global footprint, particularly in beach volleyball and development programs. In March 2025, he was awarded the Olympic Order for his contributions to the Olympic Movement. He currently serves as the FIVB Honorary Life President.

Dansa Kourouma
KISS Humanitarian Award 2019
Dr. Dansa Kourouma (born 1980) is a Guinean physician and civil society leader who currently serves as the President of the National Transitional Council (CNT) of Guinea. Appointed in January 2022, he leads the 81-member interim legislative body responsible for drafting a new constitution and overseeing the country’s transition to constitutional rule following the 2021 coup.Before his current role, Kourouma was a prominent figure in Guinean activism, serving as the President of the National Council of Civil Society Organizations (CNOSCG). An expert in electoral monitoring, he has also held leadership positions within the West African Network for Election Surveillance and the "Regard du Peuple" platform.In late 2024 and early 2025, Kourouma has remained active in international diplomacy and legislative reform. In January 2024, he was honored with the KISS Humanitarian Award in India for his commitment to societal betterment and education. As of late 2025, he continues to preside over parliamentary sessions focused on national finance and cultural legislation.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus
KISS Humanitarian Award 2018
Dr. Muhammad Yunus (born 1940) is a world-renowned Bangladeshi economist and social entrepreneur, widely celebrated as the "Banker to the Poor." He pioneered the concepts of microcredit and microfinance, founding the Grameen Bank in 1983 to provide small, collateral-free loans to the impoverished, particularly women, to help them break the cycle of poverty. For these revolutionary efforts, he and Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.As of late 2025, Dr. Yunus holds a critical political role as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, a position he assumed in August 2024 following a student-led uprising. At 85, he is currently guiding the nation through a democratic transition, with general elections scheduled for February 12, 2026.His legacy extends beyond banking through his advocacy for Social Business—enterprises created to solve social problems rather than maximize profit. He is one of few individuals to have received the Nobel Peace Prize, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal. In 2025, he was named one of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People.
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Dalai Lama
KISS Humanitarian Award 2017
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (born 1935), is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and a global icon of peace and compassion. Born Lhamo Dhondup to a farming family, he was recognized at age two as the reincarnation of his predecessor. He assumed full political power at just 15, following the Chinese invasion of Tibet.After a failed national uprising in 1959, he fled to Dharamsala, India, where he established the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. For over 60 years, he has championed the "Middle Way Approach"—seeking genuine autonomy for Tibet through non-violence and dialogue rather than independence. His commitment to global harmony and human rights earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.As of late 2025, the 90-year-old leader remains active in India, recently affirming that his succession will be managed exclusively by Tibetan traditions. Despite retiring from political duties in 2011, he continues to be the world's most prominent advocate for the "secular ethics" of kindness and mental well-being.

Ashley Tyler Ciminella
KISS Humanitarian Award
Ashley Tyler Ciminella, known professionally as Ashley Judd, is an American actress and humanitarian activist. Born in 1968, she is the daughter of country music singer Naomi Judd and the half-sister of Wynonna Judd. She rose to fame in the 1990s with critically acclaimed roles in films such as Ruby in Paradise, Heat, and thrillers like Kiss the Girls and Double Jeopardy.Beyond her acting career, Judd is highly regarded for her academic background and global advocacy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School. As of late 2025, she remains a prominent voice in humanitarian circles, having served as a Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS. Her work focuses on public health, women’s empowerment, and social justice. She is also a noted author, having penned the memoir All That Is Bitter and Sweet.

Alejandro Toledo Manrique
KISS Humanitarian Award
Alejandro Toledo Manrique (born 1946) is a Peruvian economist and politician who served as the President of Peru from 2001 to 2006. Born into an impoverished Quechuan family, he famously worked as a shoeshine boy before earning a PhD from Stanford University. He rose to international prominence as a "champion of democracy" for leading the opposition against the authoritarian government of Alberto Fujimori.During his presidency, Toledo oversaw a period of significant macroeconomic growth and signed several free trade agreements. However, his political legacy has been overshadowed by legal issues. In October 2024, he was sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison for collusion and money laundering. A second sentence of 13 years and four months was handed down in September 2025 for money laundering related to the Odebrecht scandal. Authorities found him guilty of accepting $35 million in bribes in exchange for highway construction contracts. He is currently serving his sentences concurrently in a Lima prison.

Anne F. Stenhammer
KISS Humanitarian Award
Anne F. Stenhammer (born 1950) is a distinguished Norwegian politician and international diplomat recognized for her work in gender equality and local governance. A member of the Socialist Left Party (SV), she served as the first female mayor of Fauske Municipality from 1991 to 1999. Her political career in Norway also includes serving as the State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005–2007) under Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.Stenhammer is perhaps best known globally for her tenure as the Regional Programme Director for UN Women South Asia (2008–2013) based in New Delhi. In this role, she spearheaded initiatives to promote women's political leadership, combat domestic violence, and improve healthcare access for rural women across India, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.For her humanitarian efforts, she has received several prestigious honors:KISS Humanitarian Award (2014): Awarded by the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences for her work in solidarity and justice for the poor.Human Rights Institute Award (2011): A rare honor for a UN diplomat, recognizing her advocacy in India.In recent years, she has remained active in local Norwegian politics and serves as a project coordinator for the Sjunkhatten Folk High School.

Albina du Boisrouvray
KISS Humanitarian Award
Albina du Boisrouvray (born 1939) is a French philanthropist and former film producer who dedicated her life to humanitarian causes following a personal tragedy. In 1986, her only son, François-Xavier Bagnoud, a search-and-rescue pilot, died in a helicopter accident in Mali. In his honor, she founded the FXB Foundation and the NGO FXB International in 1989.To fund her mission, she sold three-quarters of her assets, including a renowned jewelry collection and her film production company, Albina Productions. She developed the FXBVillage model, a holistic, three-year program designed to lift families out of extreme poverty and support children affected by HIV/AIDS. This model focuses on five pillars: health, nutrition, education, housing, and income generation.Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including:Officier de la Légion d’Honneur (France)KISS Humanitarian Award (India)North-South Prize of the Council of EuropeIn late 2025, she published her English-translated memoir, Phoenix Rising, detailing her "three lives" as a socialite, film producer, and activist.

Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley
KISS Humanitarian Award
Lyonchhen Jigmi Yoser Thinley (born 1952) is a distinguished Bhutanese statesman who made history as Bhutan’s first democratically elected Prime Minister (2008–2013). A career diplomat and educator, he previously served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and held the premiership twice under the rotational system (1998–1999 and 2003–2004) before leading the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa party to a landslide victory in the nation's first general election.Thinley is globally recognized as the foremost advocate for Gross National Happiness (GNH). He moved the philosophy beyond Bhutan’s borders, successfully lobbying the United Nations to adopt a resolution declaring March 20 as the International Day of Happiness. Under his leadership, Bhutan also pledged to remain carbon neutral.Key Honors and AwardsAwardOrganization/EntityYearDruk Wangyel MedalHis Majesty the King of Bhutan2009KISS Humanitarian AwardKalinga Institute of Social Sciences2012HR Strategic & Iconic LeaderWorld HRD Congress2010Distinguished Alumni AwardPennsylvania State University2009As of 2025, he continues his global advocacy as a board member of the Club de Madrid and a member of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council.

Nicholas Addison Phillips
KISS Humanitarian Award 2011
Nicholas Addison Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers (born 1938), is a titan of the British legal system, distinguished for being the first President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2009–2012). A graduate of King's College, Cambridge, he rose through the ranks as a specialist in maritime and commercial law, becoming a Queen's Counsel in 1978 and a High Court judge in 1987.Lord Phillips held an unprecedented sequence of the UK's highest judicial offices, serving as Master of the Rolls (2000–2005) and Lord Chief Justice (2005–2008) before leading the transition from the House of Lords to the new Supreme Court. He is often remembered for his "undercover" work order on a council estate to better understand community sentencing and for his role in the BSE (Mad Cow Disease) inquiry.Key Honors and RolesTitle/HonorDetailSupreme Court PresidentInaugural President (2009–2012)Lord Chief JusticeHead of the Judiciary of England and Wales (2005–2008)Order of the GarterAppointed Knight Companion (KG) in 2011KISS Humanitarian AwardReceived in 2011 for contributions to justiceAcademic RolesChancellor of Bournemouth University (2009–2018)As of 2025, he remains a member of the House of Lords and continues to be active in international arbitration and dispute resolution.

KISS Humanitarian Award Laureates (2010 ~ 2008)

Anerood Jugnauth
KISS Humanitarian Award 2010
Sir Anerood Jugnauth (1930–2021), often referred to as "SAJ," was a monumental figure in Mauritian politics, serving as both Prime Minister and President. Trained as a barrister at Lincoln's Inn, he entered politics in the 1960s and participated in the historic 1965 Lancaster House Conference that paved the way for Mauritius' independence.Known as the "Father of the Mauritian Economic Miracle," Jugnauth is credited with transforming the nation from a poor, mono-crop economy into a diversified and prosperous middle-income country. During his 35-year career, he served an unprecedented six terms as Prime Minister and two terms as President. He was a central force in the country becoming a Republic in 1992. In his final years, he led the international legal battle at the International Court of Justice for the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago.Major Honors and RecognitionHonor/AwardConferred ByPadma VibhushanGovernment of India (2020)Grand Commander (GCSK)Order of the Star and Key of the Indian OceanKnight Commander (KCMG)United Kingdom (1988)Legion of HonourRepublic of France (1990)Pravasi Bharatiya SammanGovernment of India (2003)Would you like to know more about his specific economic policies or his final legal campaign regarding the Chagos Islands?Biography of Sir Anerood JugnauthThis video provides a detailed overview of Sir Anerood Jugnauth's life, from his humble beginnings to his career as a lawyer and his enduring political legacy in Mauritius.

Dr. Ham Ki-seon
KISS Humanitarian Award 2009
Dr. Ham Ki-seon (born 1941) is a distinguished South Korean plastic surgeon, educator, and humanitarian who serves as the Founder and President of Hanseo University. After a successful medical career where he established Korea’s first specialized plastic surgery hospital, he transitioned to education in the early 1990s, motivated by a vision to cultivate specialized global talent.Under his leadership, Hanseo University has become a premier institution for aerospace and aviation studies, featuring its own airfield and state-of-the-art flight training centers. Beyond academia, Dr. Ham is deeply committed to humanitarianism. He served as the Vice President of the Korean Red Cross and has personally funded and performed free reconstructive surgeries for over 2,000 children born with cleft palates.In 2009, he was honored with the KISS Humanitarian Award in India for his selfless dedication to education and his "art of giving." He is also an accomplished poet, often integrating humanistic values into his university’s technical curriculum.

Bomo Edith Edna Molewa
KISS Humanitarian Award 2008
Bomo Edith Edna Molewa (1957–2018) was a distinguished South African politician and a tireless advocate for environmental conservation and social justice. A veteran of the anti-apartheid movement, she served as a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and held several key leadership positions, most notably as the Minister of Environmental Affairs from 2010 until her passing in 2018.Molewa was a global leader in climate diplomacy. She played a pivotal role in the negotiations for the Paris Agreement and was a fierce protector of South Africa's biodiversity, leading the national integrated strategy to combat rhino poaching. Before her cabinet role, she made history as the first female Premier of the North West Province (2004–2009).In 2017, she was honored with the KISS Humanitarian Award for her work in sustainable development and social upliftment. Her legacy continues through her "Working for Water" and "Working on Fire" programs, which combined environmental restoration with job creation for the marginalized.

