The Fikelela AIDS Project is the first recipient of the Cordaid award for faith-based leadership in the fight against AIDS, and received a prize of 15,000 euros (approx. $19,300). Fikelela, located in Cape Town, South Africa, is a Jubilee Ministry sponsored by the Diocese of Lexington that works for mobilize churches in the Diocese of Cape Town around the issue of HIV/AIDS.

Cordaid picked Fikelela from a pool of 27 nominated organizations based on leadership criteria such as courage, creativity, personal integrity, initiative and personal sacrifice. Fikelela was singled out as an organization that has successfully and visibly "challenged institutional churches to become real hiv/aids friendly churches", according to the award announcement. Fikelela AIDS Project "shows leadership, creativity and perseverance in a strategy that effectively has demonstrated to break stigma in church communities and transform exclusion into inclusiveness, compassion and hope."

Cordaid is one of the world's largest international development organizations, with 90 years of experience and expertise in emergency aid and structural poverty eradication, according to their website.

To learn more about the Fikelela AIDS Project, visit their website. You can download the original award announcement below.