Priyanka Chopra conferred Mother Teresa Memorial award for social justice

Indian actor, Priyanka Chopra has been bestowed with the 2017 Mother Teresa Memorial Award for her contribution towards lending her support to social causes such as her recent visit to Syria where she met and interacted with refugee children.

The 35-year-old is also UNICEF's Goodwill Ambassador and is known for supporting various philanthropic activities. The award was received by her mother Madhu Chopra, on her behalf.

Speaking on the occasion, the actor’s mother said, "I humbly accept the award on her behalf. As a mother, I am immensely proud to have a child who is so compassionate and has so much kindness in her. She exemplifies the fact the more you give the more you get. Even as a child, she was influenced by Mother Teresa and has been supporting Prem Niwas in Bareilly.”

She continued by saying that it is justifiable for her to receive this honourable award and that the actor would be humbled that her efforts have been recognised by the foundation that believes in helping the needy and supporting the deprived and raising funds for those who are impoverished.

The award has been conferred to several famous personalities in the past such as Malala Yousafzai, Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Oscar Fernandes, Sudha Murty, Sushmita Sen and Bilquis Bano Edhi.

About Mother Teresa Award

• The Mother Teresa Awards are conferred to honour individuals and organizations that promote peace, equality and social justice and aim to encourage the cause of justice and peaceful coexistence, while providing an impetus for society to imbibe these values.

• The award is given in honour of Mother Teresa, one of the greatest social reformers.

• The awards were established in 2005 at the initiative of Harmony Foundation, an organization created by Abraham Mathai in Mumbai. Since then, they have been given annually or biannually.

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