The social activist and PCA of the Foundation for Community Development (FDC), Graça Machel, was honored in Italy for her humanitarian work, particularly the defense of women's and children's rights around the world. 

Graça Machel was recognized with the Leadership Award at the annual DVF Awards ceremony, an initiative of the Diller-von Fürstenberg Foundation, established in 2010 to recognize and support women who dedicate themselves to transforming the lives of other women; women who have had the courage to fight; the power to survive and the leadership to inspire.

One of the organization's arguments for the award is that "Graça Machel dedicated her life to improving the lot of women and children, inspiring hope and building a more just and equitable world for us all".

The award was presented by renowned US presenter and businesswoman Oprah Winfrey.

"Graça Machel is a woman who lives generosity. This is a woman who lives in the service of something greater than herself. A woman who began as a little girl in a small village in Mozambique, who walked barefoot to school and went on to play a key role in the history of two great African nations," wrote Oprah Winfrey on her Instagram account a few minutes after the ceremony.

Graça Machel has more than 50 years of humanitarian work, particularly in the area in which she was recognized.

In addition to her, the initiative recognized the efforts of other women, such as Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand; Yael Admi, co-founder of Women Wage Peace; Xiye Bastida, Mexican climate justice activist and defender of indigenous rights, among others. (Text and image: o país newspaper)