STOCKHOLM -- A Cambodian activist who has championed the rights of poor children to get an education was named winner of the World's Children's Prize, sometimes called the “Children's Nobel Prize”.
Phymean Noun was selected Wednesday after a vote among close to 2 million school children across the world, organisers said.
She has for 13 years worked to help "children living in extreme poverty" and set up schools after seeing children scavenge at garbage dumps around Phnom Penh.
As winner, Phymean Noun receives US$50,000. Her foundation, People Improvement Organisation, said it helps about 1,200 children a day and offers vocational training and runs outreach centres.
Two honorary award winners were each to receive $25,000: Javier Stauring of the United States was cited for his legal work to help juveniles in prison, while the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate Kailash Satyarthi of India was credited for his work against child slavery.
Last year, Mr Satyarthi's co-laureate, teen education activist Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan, won the World's Children's Prize and used her prize money to rebuild schools in Gaza.
The award was established in 2000 by the Swedish non-governmental organization Children's World.
Patrons of the prize include Sweden's Queen Silvia, who was to present the prize Wednesday, as well as Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, and the late South African president Nelson Mandela's widow, Graca Machel.