Preda youth advocate wins award
by Emmanuel C. Drewery
Akbay Youth Organization
Following her successful advocacy tour of Japan, Pia Corvera won the prestigious Woman's Opportunity Award (WOA). The award is given annually by Soroptimist International of Tokyo-Ginza, Japan by its President Hiroko Kittaka.
Soroptimist International is looking for young women who have the potential to lead and make a valuable contribution to society and decided to give the award to Pia after reading articles about the powerful speeches she made in different schools and conferences in Japan that attracted media-wide coverage. In her speech she elaborated the plight of Philippine children and the growing problem of sex tourism based on her own hardships as a child.
Pia is a former child trafficked and exploited in the sex industry. She was saved by Preda and recovered at the Preda home for children and now shares her own life story that serves as an inspiration to others and encourages them to take action on behalf of abused children.
The prestigious award will be given to Pia on the 23rd of November, 2006 by a representative from Soroptomist International, Ms. Nozomi Hirayama. She will come from Japan and present the award with a simple ceremony at the Preda Center this Thursday, November 23rd. Part of the award is 100,000yen (about 50,000pesos) that will be given to Pia to support her living and her study during her internship and training in the hospital to become a nurse.
Pia's visit to Japan was organized by Sanae Nakajima of Free the Children, an organization that has been working for the elimination of child labor and inspiring young people to bring about social change.
As a result of Pia's advocacy works
in Japan, many young people are inspired to work on the world wide
campaign to free the children from abuse, discrimination and sexual
exploitation. end.
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