Ousseimi Foundation Prize for tolerance 2014 Initiatives of Change A history of peacebuilding and changemaking Fondation Ousseimi Genève THE OUSSEIMI FOUNDATION PRIZE FOR TOLERANCE 2014 awarded to INITIATIVES OF CHANGE The Foundation was created by Khaled Ousseimi in 1990, to promote action in favour of a more tolerant world in the sense of the acceptance of others, no matter how different, and recognition that they are equal in rights and liberties, no matter what their sex, race, ethnic group, religion or opinions may be. Tolerance means overcoming mistrust, fear and prejudice, but also indifference, in order to open up to others and live not necessarily as them but with them. The very concept of tolerance posits the existence of minimum values shared by all men – a kind of common set of rules of the game or universal normative framework, such as that set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The mission of the Ousseimi Foundation Prize for Tolerance is to contribute to greater tolerance in this complex and divided world. 2 3 THE OUSSEIMI FOUNDATION PRIZE FOR TOLERANCE 2014 awarded to INITIATIVES OF CHANGE The Foundation was created by Khaled Ousseimi in 1990, to promote action in favour of a more tolerant world in the sense of the acceptance of others, no matter how different, and recognition that they are equal in rights and liberties, no matter what their sex, race, ethnic group, religion or opinions may be. Tolerance means overcoming mistrust, fear and prejudice, but also indifference, in order to open up to others and live not necessarily as them but with them. The very concept of tolerance posits the existence of minimum values shared by all men – a kind of common set of rules of the game or universal normative framework, such as that set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The mission of the Ousseimi Foundation Prize for Tolerance is to contribute to greater tolerance in this complex and divided world. 2 3 The Ousseimi Foundation was created by the Ousseimi family in 1990 by ADDRESS BY MARIA OUSSEIMI FOR THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF notarial deed. It is recognised as an institution of public utility as defined in the THE OUSSEIMI FOUNDATION PRIZE FOR TOLERANCE decree of the State Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva of 16 May 1990. At the beginning of this century, when our Foundation wished to develop its action The basic motivation of the Ousseimi family in creating the Foundation is clearly in favour of a more tolerant world, it adopted the following definition of tolerance: expressed in the address of the President of the Foundation, Mr Khaled Ousseimi, to the first meeting of the Foundation Board on 28 February 1991, whose text is “Tolerance is both a state of mind and an attitude. It is truly meaningful only reproduced below. if tested in daily contact with others. Tolerance is more than peace (espe- cially if the latter is defined as the ‘absence of war’): it implies acceptance of others, no matter how different, and recognition that they are equal in rights and liberties, no matter what their sex, race, ethnic group, religion or “Man is little more than the product of his life experience. What merit he has opinions may be.Tolerance means overcoming mistrust, fear and prejudice, stems from the use he makes of that experience. but also indifference, in order to open up to others and live not necessarily Success is meaningful only if its fruits are shared with others. The Ousseimi as them but with them. Foundation was founded out of a desire to share with others and as a tribute The very concept of tolerance posits the existence of minimum values to the communities in which I have lived throughout my life. Hence Damascus, shared by all men – a kind of common set of rules of the game or universal Beirut and Geneva, cities that, each in its own way, have made me the man normative framework, such as that set out in the Universal Declaration of I am today, are the subjects of special attention. Sharing with others is the Human Rights – and recognition of the fact that, in respecting others, we all essential value transmitted to me by my father. Within the Foundation, this expect to be recognized and respected in turn.” means sharing first and foremost with the helpless victims of circumstance, but also with those who seek knowledge but lack the necessary means, and On this basis, the Ousseimi Foundation decided, on the one hand, to support pro- lastly with researchers whose efforts are aimed at improving the lot of man- jects which it considered to make a reality of this definition, and, on the other, in a kind. public and concrete manner to recognize or to bring recognition to men, women or institutions that had made a real contribution to a more tolerant world. Allow me to conclude with a confession that tempers what might be viewed as the excessive altruism of what I have written so far. The two most beauti- The choice for the first Ousseimi Foundation Prize for Tolerance was easy ! In fact, it ful days of my life were the day that I decided to establish the Foundation’s imposed itself upon us by the very personality of Nelson Mandela, that remarkable endowment and the day on which my decision received the unreserved man who succeeded not only in leading his country to democracy, but also, through endorsement and support of the members of three generations of the his extraordinary aptitude for tolerance and forgiveness, managed to avoid a blood- Ousseimi family…when all is said and done, a purely selfish sentiment.” bath and chaos. We presented the prize to him personally in April 2004. Khaled OUSSEIMI, 28 February 1991 Following the choice of our first prize, the Foundation decided to present the prize, not to a person, but to an event, the Fès World Festival of Sacred Music, whose activity we viewed as exemplary. For while so many wars and conflicts originate from religious differences, the fact of bringing together the so called “sacred” music of several religions seemed to us to be a highly symbolic act of tolerance. This sec- The activity of the Foundation has been carried on in accordance with the goals ond prize was awarded in 2006. which it set itself. Today those goals are principally: Then there was the question of our third prize. What if, rather than honouring a 1. To promote a more tolerant world, notably (at the initiative of the Founder living person, we were to recognize the merit of a model from the past with con- and President) by means of a Prize for Tolerance, created in 2004. tinuing value for today ? The rescue of the Christians of Damascus by Emir Abd 4 2. To assist deserving and brilliant students who lack the financial means to El-Kader-al-Jazairy in 1860 presented us in 2010 with the opportunity of celebrating 5 continue their studies. This brochure celebrates the ceremony for the award of the 4th Ousseimi Foundation Prize for Tolerance to Initiatives of Change, held at Mountain House, Caux-sur-Montreux, Vaud, Switzerland on 6 July 2014. The Ousseimi Foundation was created by the Ousseimi family in 1990 by ADDRESS BY MARIA OUSSEIMI FOR THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF notarial deed. It is recognised as an institution of public utility as defined in the THE OUSSEIMI FOUNDATION PRIZE FOR TOLERANCE decree of the State Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva of 16 May 1990. At the beginning of this century, when our Foundation wished to develop its action The basic motivation of the Ousseimi family in creating the Foundation is clearly in favour of a more tolerant world, it adopted the following definition of tolerance: expressed in the address of the President of the Foundation, Mr Khaled Ousseimi, to the first meeting of the Foundation Board on 28 February 1991, whose text is “Tolerance is both a state of mind and an attitude. It is truly meaningful only reproduced below. if tested in daily contact with others. Tolerance is more than peace (espe- cially if the latter is defined as the ‘absence of war’): it implies acceptance of others, no matter how different, and recognition that they are equal in rights and liberties, no matter what their sex, race, ethnic group, religion or “Man is little more than the product of his life experience. What merit he has opinions may be.Tolerance means overcoming mistrust, fear and prejudice, stems from the use he makes of that experience. but also indifference, in order to open up to others and live not necessarily Success is meaningful only if its fruits are shared with others. The Ousseimi as them but with them. Foundation was founded out of a desire to share with others and as a tribute The very concept of tolerance posits the existence of minimum values to the communities in which I have lived throughout my life. Hence Damascus, shared by all men – a kind of common set of rules of the game or universal Beirut and Geneva, cities that, each in its own way, have made me the man normative framework, such as that set out in the Universal Declaration of I am today, are the subjects of special attention. Sharing with others is the Human Rights – and recognition of the fact that, in respecting others, we all essential value transmitted to me by my father. Within the Foundation, this expect to be recognized and respected in turn.” means sharing first and foremost with the helpless victims of circumstance, but also with those who seek knowledge but lack the necessary means, and On this basis, the Ousseimi Foundation decided, on the one hand, to support pro- lastly with researchers whose efforts are aimed at improving the lot of man- jects which it considered to make a reality of this definition, and, on the other, in a kind.