May 2008 Edition

Ariel Zylbersztejn had a crazy idea in mind when he screened Cinepop’s first movie a few years back: to confront society’s greatest challenges, by providing free access to family films for the urban and rural poor in Mexico. Little did Ariel realize the impact he was about to make.

Valdete Idrizi, founder and executive director of Community Building Mitrovica (CBM), was presented with the International Women of Courage Award by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, for her efforts to rebuild society in Mitrovica, Kosovo.

Schoolteacher Judith Achar trains needy Mexican families in the ancient Nahua weaving technique - to create colorful bags from recycled materials - so as to combat problems of poverty, unemployment, poor access to education and environmental degradation.

Andrej Nosov, founder of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, is promoting peace, justice and equality in the Balkans by connecting the post-war generations of Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Aferdita Syla created a safe and healthy environment for Albanian, Roma and Serb youths to take part in activities together at the Gjilan Youth Center. Founded in November 1999, the center was among the first to organize multiethnic youth activities, and to promote the well-being of youths after the war in Kosovo.