Vancouver NGO The Shanti Uganda Society has been chosen as one of four recipients to accept The Crystal of Hope award and share in the $150,000 donation sponsored by Swarovski. Sadie St. Denis, executive director of Shanti Uganda, will be accepting the international honour from actress and producer Hilary Swank this Saturday in Vienna at the annual Life Ball. This year's Life Ball will be hosted by AIDS LIFE, a European NGO that is held to remember those who have suffered from AIDS and honour those raising funds in 36 different countries. The Girl Effect, a social change movement for adolescent girls, has been selected as the beneficiary as well. Shanti Uganda's Teen Girls Health and Wellness Program teaches young girls about healthy relationships, HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness, family planning, skills training and sexual reproductive health rights. Girls are empowered and inspired to make healthy choices and stay in school.
