Abdulah Šarčević (1929) is a Bosnian philosopher and member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was born in Stari Majdan near Sanski Most. He graduated ат the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb in 1952. At the same University, he defended his doctoral dissertation entitled: “The Crisis of History and Modernity - The Philosophy of Existence of Karl Jaspers” in 1967.

He was a professor of philosophy at the high school in Banja Luka in the period 1952-1954. In the period 1954–1959 he worked at the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje, and from 1959 at the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo. During his academic career, he was lecturer at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, USA, and participated in numerous symposia around the world. 

Abdulah Šarčević deals with various cultural and philosophical phenomena of the East and the West, theoretical issues of contemporary philosophical currents, primarily in Europe and the United States. He has published dozens of books and hundreds of scientific articles in the field of contemporary philosophy,  history of philosophy, philosophy of culture, philosophy of art and aesthetics, ontology and hermeneutic philosophy, philosophical ethics, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, philosophy of technology, philosophy of nature, spiritual science, etc.
He published works in numerous journals in the region (Dijalog, Filozofska istraživanja, Filozofija, Sovremenost, Third program of Radio Ljubljana, Razgledi, Yearbook of The Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje, Praxis, etc.).

He was the editor of the journal Radovi of the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo. From 1959 to 1992 he was a member of the editorial board and editor of the Logos philosophical library.

Abdulah Šarčević is a member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of BiH since 1981, he was also a member of the International Writers 'Parliament, the Writers' Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, president of the Association of Philosophy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, president of the Yugoslav Association of Philosophy, and founder of the Center for Philosophical Research of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of BiH.

​International jury of The Young Humanist Award 2021, presided by Frédéric Fappani von Lothringen, from The NGO CNRJ (Cercles Nationaux de Réflexion sur la Jeunesse), and Dr. Cédric Ouanekpone, the first recipient of this award, decided to grant The Young Humanist Award 2021 of the Ohrid Academy of Humanism to Simon Fitz.
Simon Fitz was born in Lustenau, Austria on the 20th February, 1987. Born in a modest family of two sisters, Simon visited the primary and secondary schools in Innsbruck after which he went to a technical college near Innsbruck.  Simon spent 23 years of his life in the Wilten Boys’ Choir. This favoured the acquisition of a lot of important skills beside the regular school career. In addition to the professional singing training, he also served as a guardian for the kids, earning a lot of experience in pedagogy.
Simon became aware of Africa through the Comboni Missionaries who had a training facility in Innsbruck. It was a different picture than the one he got through the common media. 
After his high school education he took off to the western part of Kenya to work as a volunteer under the flag of ICYE (Inter Cultural Youth Exchange). Primarily he was placed in a Primary School in a rural area. After getting adapted to the location he set up a Secondary School with some other teacher colleagues with the will of the village elders. In that very year they started with one class of 28 pioneers, supported with materials and a classroom by the primary institution. 
A very potential principal was given to the school by the government with whom we were able to set further steps. The Secondary School became official and more teachers were recruited. 
After his return to Austria, he started organizing charity concerts for the school with the help of „Wilten Boys Choir“- a very famous institution in Austria and Europe. Within three years, three concerts we were able to raise more than 100.000€, which was perfectly used to build up the school. During this period, also the number of students rose from 28 to over 400. Many of them were already hosted in the school compound. Simon travelled from 2007 to 2015 on a regular basis to Kenya to coordinate the project, what could be seen as his „heart project“. He had to guarantee, that every single cent was used in the best way to make sure the project became a success. Through their work, the government of Kenya saw the clear success of the school and started seriously taking over. He is still in contact with the people on ground and enjoys seeing the multiple growing fruits.
Since this project was so successful we decided in Austria to create a foundation with the aim of children help children.

Georgi STARDELOV (Gevgelija, 28 August 1930) is a philosopher, aesthetician, essayist, literary critic and anthologist. He graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy at the University of Belgrade (1953). He obtained his PhD in philosophy (1965). He was a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje (1956-1966), its Dean (1975-1977), first Dean of the Interdisciplinary Studies in Journalism (1977-1981), President of the Writers' Association of Macedonia and President of the Macedonian PEN Centre. In 1977 doctorial dissertation entitled The Aesthetic, Culturological and Literary Criticism Concepts of Georgi Stardelov was presented at the Faculty of Philosophy in Skopje. He has been a member of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) since 1986. He was its Vice-president (2000-2004), has been Head of the Lexicography Centre (since 2000), and since 1st January 2008 was chosen as President of MASA. In MASA he has been running the macro project "History and Culture of Macedonia" since 1993 and has been the editor of 20 volumes. Academician Stardelov is one of the central figures of Macedonian spiritual life and space, an intellectual whose word and opinion have competence and suggestiveness. Academician Mateja Matevski has given a lucid characteristic on the critical works of Stardelov by saying "he does that with the ecstasy, enthusiasm and style of a belletrist and with the undertaking and seriousness of a scientist".
 He has achieved most notable results in the field of applying philosophical hermeneutics in the analysis of literary and artistic phenomena. Actually, the application of hermeneutics in the works of Academician Stardelov is both theoretical and practical. It is theoretical, because it refers to the philosophical discourse of the most important philosophers of the 20th century, Martin Heidegger and Hans-Georg Gadamer, in order to establish, in a creative dialogue with them, his own and personal hermeneutics; and it is practical, because he applies that hermeneutics generously in the analysis of literary works. The vast and various work of academician Georgi Stardelov which is being created for more than five decades, is anchored in the basic achievements of European philosophy, culture and literature. This work is not just in a constant artistic dialogue, but, moreover, it has been connected to the pivotal glimmers of Macedonian and Balkan culture and literature, since the beginning of time until today, and in that way has itself become an unavoidable part of its development. The work of academician Stardelov not only follows and evaluates, but it also directly participates in the development of Macedonian culture, mainly in the field of its philosophical reconsideration. On the other hand, his great love towards literature necessarily created a point of intersection between literature and philosophy. 
 Academician Stardelov is recipient of several domestic and foreign awards and recognitions. 

Romano Prodi (born 9 August 1939) is an Italian politician who served as the 10th President of the European Commission from 1999 to 2004. He served twice as Prime Minister of Italy, first from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and then from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008. He is considered the founder of the Italian centre-left and one of the most prominent and iconic figures of the so-called Second Republic.

A former professor of economics, Prodi ran in 1996 as lead candidate of The Olive Tree coalition, winning the general election and serving as Prime Minister of Italy until 1998. Following the victory of his coalition The Union in the April 2006 Italian elections, Prodi took power again. Up to this time, he has been the only one lead candidate of Italian centre-left who won elections and managed to form a government without the need of opponents' parliamentary support.

On 14 October 2007, Prodi became the first President of the Democratic Party upon foundation of the party. On 12 September 2008, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon selected Prodi as president of the African Union-United Nations peacekeeping panel.He is currently serving as the United Nations Special Envoy for the Sahel.

LETTER OF OHRID ACADEMY OF HUMANISM TO ROMANO PRODI

"It is a great honor and veritable joy to be informed about the bestowment of The world prize for humanism 2019 to myself. I’m very grateful to the Ohrid Academy of Humanism to have considered my profile as a winner of such a prestigious award, which in the past was given to personalities of a highest level. I’m equally grateful because I’m convinced that the values of humanism are very important, especially now, in the context of present tendencies, as they are openly defied by the forces of populism. I hereby confirm my presence in Ohrid in January 2019, with my wife Flavia, to receive the world prize for humanism.
With respect,
Romano Prodi"

LETTER OF ROMANO PRODI

The International  jury of  Ohrid Academy  of Humanism unanimously decided to give The World Prize for Humanism for 2018 to the great name of world  science  and literature - Jean-Patrick Connrade.
Jean-Patrick Connerade is emeritus professor of physics at Imperial College London, UK, and the president of the European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters (EASAL). He is also an award winning poet in his own right, writing in French, under the pen name of  Chaunes. He is also a former president of EuroScience
      Since its establishment in 2007, the World Humanism Award has been awarded to the champions of international humanist vision, like Daisaku Ikeda (Japan), Manuel De Olveira (Portugal), Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Russia), Ravi Shankar (India), Peter Brook (UK), Herta Müller (Germany), John Ralston Saul (Canada), Svetlin Rusev (Bulgaria), Vida Ognjenoviic (Serbia), Darko Gasparovic (Croatia).
The award ceremony of the World Prize for Humanism to Jiri Svoboda, will take place in Ohrid, on January 18 –“Vodici”, in the house of Urania, of  MANU, starting at 19 o'clock. On the ceremony there
speeches by: Jordan Plevnes – President of The Ohrid Academy of Humanism, His Excellency the Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Macedonia, Charles Garrett, The mayor of Municipality of Ohrid, Jovan Stojanoski who will be presenting the award, and award winner Jean-Patrick Connerade.

LETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL JURY OF THE OHRID ACADEMY OF HUMANISM FOR JEAN-PATRICK CONNERADE


"1st of November 2017

Dear President Plevnes

I am deeply touched and honoured by the choice the jury has made of awarding me the World Prize of Humanism for the year 2018. It is indeed a great honour to receive it after so many distinguished artists and philosophers whose work I very much admire, and your kind words inspire me with the hope that I will indeed prove worthy of such a high recognition. I feel particularly touched because the prize has the aim of rewarding contributions coming from many different fields of human endeavour. I have attempted over many years to bring together literature and the investigative sciences in a common pursuit of beauty and to foster a fruitful dialogue between them – especially between poetry and all forms of scientific research. I feel this aspect of humanism is particularly important today. The cultural links between sciences and the arts are essential to our new century. Young people all over the world feel the need for restoring the unity of human thought and are strongly attracted towards all forms of expression which combine them in novel ways. If the sciences were not beautiful or if the arts ignored new knowledge, the world would be a poorer place. Humanity has always aspired towards ethical and philosophical values capable of bringing them together in the greatest possible harmony. This spirit is clearly reflected in the choices the Jury has made of past laureates of the World Prize of Humanism, and I feel truly honoured in being included amongst them. I accept this prize with deep gratitude and will be happy to come to Ohrid and address the Academy of Humanism which perpetuates the fine tradition of St Clement of Ohrid to this day.

With kind regards

Jean-Patrick Connerade

Imperial College London and the European Academy of Sciences Arts and Letters"

The International  jury of  Ohrid Academy  of Humanism unanimously decided to give The World Prize for Humanism for 2017 to the great name of Czech and world cinema - Jiri Svoboda. His extraordinary life and creative work, whose artistic crown was last year’s masterpiece dedicated to Jan Hus, placed him among  the big names of the world humanist thought, that over the years have enriched the spiritual memory of the city of Ohrid, the city of the eternal living Macedonian enlighteners St. Clement and St. Naum, students of the apostles of Slavic culture Ss. Cyril and Methodius, patrons of Europe.
      Since its establishment in 2007, the World Humanism Award has been awarded to the champions of international humanist vision, like Daisaku Ikeda (Japan), Manuel De Olveira (Portugal), Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Russia), Ravi Shankar (India), Peter Brook (UK), Herta Müller (Germany), John Ralston Saul (Canada), Svetlin Rusev (Bulgaria), Vida Ognjenoviic (Serbia), Darko Gasparovic (Croatia).
The award ceremony of the World Prize for Humanism to Jiri Svoboda, will take place in Ohrid, on January 18 –“Vodici”, in the house of Urania, of  MANU, starting at 19 o'clock. On the ceremony there speeches by: Jordan Plevnes – President of The Ohrid Academy of Humanism, His Excellency Miroslav Ramesh - Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Macedonia, The mayor of Municipality of Ohrid Dr. Nikola Bakarachevski, who will be presenting the award, and award winner Jiri Svoboda.

"Dear Mr Jordan Plevnes,

It is the great honor and pleasure for me to receive the announcement that you together with the international jury have decided to award me with such a prestigious prize. I was not only gratified, but also really surprised. Please accept my sincere thanks.
I am delighted to accept your kind invitation to Ohrid and Skopje and I am looking forward to the opportunity of our encounter."
Jiri Svoboda

Reactions in the Macedonian media

This autumn in marked by the proclamation of Mother Teresa as a saint, and not only in Macedonia , but all the Balkan states feel this act as great celebration of modern times. The  inspiration for the choice of the name Teresa came from St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and The Ohrid academy of Humanism, along with the publishing house Macedonia Prima, printed "Story of a Soul, the Autobiography", translated by Liljana Kotevska – Plevnes. This book was awarded by the prize “The Archbishop Gabriel”, for best spiritual book in Macedonia, and the French magazine La Revue St. Therese of Lisieux included in its  2008 edition, a wonderful article about the discovering of St. Therese in the Balkans. By the end of this year the second Macedonian edition of this book, already translated in more that hundred languages of the world , will be published in Ohrid.