Director and co-founder of CASA Socio-Environmental Fund nominated for international prize

Olga Alexeeva Memorial Prize is given to individuals who work for the development of philanthropy for progressive social change in emerging market countries.

CASA Socio-Environmental Fund is really proud to announce that its co-founder and Director, Maria Amália Souza, is one of the seven finalists for the fourth edition of Olga Alexeeva Memorial Prize. Maria Amália has been working with systems thinking in service of social justice philanthropy for more than 30 years. CASA is a result of her hard work and vision of how small funds can generate huge impact in South America.

In international tour for the album Txai, of Milton Nascimento in 1991, when she coordinated the agenda of the delegation of the Alliance of Forest Peoples, in the US. (Photo: Joseane Daher)

This international prize was launched in 2012 and recognizes individuals working for social change in emerging market countries. It is dedicated in memory and honour of Olga Alexeeva, a Russian activist who worked with the belief that the path for a better world must count on the support for initiatives that come from local contexts and not from developed and rich countries’ perspectives. Olga was a specialist in building bridges between protagonists in fighting inequality and helped to map different philanthropy development strategies for social justice.

Coordinating the strategic planning meeting that launched the CASA Socio-Environmental Fund in 2005. (Photo: CASA Archive)

The winner of 2016 edition will be announced in the beginning of October and invited to give a speech during the Community Philanthropy Summit, organised by the Global Fund for Community Foundation, in December, in South Africa. All finalists will be invited to participate in the conference and will have their profiles published in a special supplement of Alliance Magazine, September edition.

In strategic meeting with environmental groups in Santa Cruz de La Sierra, Bolivia, to improve CASA’s support within the GAGGA program – Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action in May 2016. (Photo: Vanessa Purper)

Reade the complete announcement here: http://www.alliancemagazine.org/article/fourth-olga-alexeeva-memorial-prize-finalists/