Clooney Foundation for Justice Honors iACT with Justice for Survivors Award

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Clooney Foundation for Justice Honors iACT with Justice for Survivors Award

The inaugural ‘Albie Awards’ on September 29, 2022 will be chaired by Amal and George Clooney and Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation.

NEW YORK. (September 20, 2022) – iACT, an LA-based international action organization daring to imagine a more mindful humanitarian system, is nominated by the Clooney Foundation for Justice for the Justice for Survivors Award as a part of the organization’s inaugural ‘Albie Awards.’ The ceremony will be held in New York City on September 29, 2022.

"iACT was built on creating personal connections between survivors of genocide and mass atrocities and people in the US,” said Amal and George Clooney, Co-Presidents of the Clooney Foundation for Justice. “The late founders, whom we worked with at the Clooney Foundation For Justice, Gabriel Stauring and Katie-Jay Scott, created this organization to put a face to the overwhelming numbers of displaced Darfuri men, women, and children, and to make people feel personally connected and inspired to act for justice for the people of Darfur."

The Justice for Survivors award aims to “shine a spotlight on courageous people fighting for justice despite great personal risk” according to the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ).

A statement from Amal and George Clooney on the Clooney Foundation for Justice website says, “We founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice to hold perpetrators of mass atrocities accountable for their crimes, and to help victims in their fight for justice.”

iACT is being honored with the Justice for Survivors award based on its work with CFJ and survivors of the genocide in Darfur.

“We are beyond honored to receive this award,” says Sara-Christine Dallain, Interim Executive Director for iACT. “iACT has been working next to Darfuri refugees for more than a decade. They are our friends and colleagues, and we hope this award elevates their calls and work for justice.”

In 2009, iACT formally established itself as a Non-Governmental Organization and began co-creating programs with refugee and conflict-affected communities using a human-centered approach. iACT’s award winning early childhood education, sports and leadership programs include Little Ripples, Refugees United Soccer Academy, Lead with Empathy, and Darfur United. Through these programs, iACT is demonstrating a new standard for humanitarian action grounded in listening, trusting, and centering the voices and leadership of refugees and people affected by conflict.

“What iACT does here is something rare,” says Alfateh Younous Haroun, Program Coordinator and Board Member for iACT. “iACT’s system gives the belief to the beneficiaries themselves, to do the work by themselves, to lead the work by themselves. That means it’s going to produce good community leaders; that they can be good leaders in the present and good leaders in the future.”

Now, iACT is collaborating with other humanitarian actors and conflict-affected communities to scale their community-led approach to reach more people.

Prior to the awards ceremony on Saturday, September 24, iACT will host its annual fundraiser, impACT. ImpACT honors founders Gabriel Stauring and Katie-Jay Scott. Stauring and Scott passed away in a tragic accident in 2021. This event helps carry out their legacy and all that they have built with iACT. ImpACT provides a number of opportunities to reach an audience that is devoted to supporting iACT’s vision. For event tickets and other information, visit iact.ngo/impact.

Founders Gabriel Stauring and Katie-Jay Scott always felt that they would leave this world a better place. They envisioned a world where the dignity, humanity, and agency of conflict-affected people are recognized, affirmed and supported. They believed it was their role to honor and support others as they stood in their own power.

Stauring and Scott’s vision of amplifying the voices of refugee communities lives on through iACT. A statement from Katie-Jay Scott on the iACT website says “I feel we are all part of one community and one humanity.”

iACT stands alongside amazing individuals and groups being honored by the ‘Albie Awards’ this year including: Justice Albie Sachs, Maria Ressa, Viasna, and Dr. Josephine Kulea for Samburu Girls Foundation.

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Based in Los Angeles, iACT is an international action organization with a mission to inspire a more mindful humanitarian system. Our vision is a world where the dignity, humanity, and agency of conflict-affected people are recognized, affirmed, and supported. iACT facilitates refugee-led education, sports, and human rights programs in camps around the world. For more information visit: www.iact.ngo