World Learning President Donald Steinberg Receives Global Impact Award

Publication Date: May 4, 2015
Publication Location: WASHINGTON
Contact: Kathryn Schoenberger   |   [email protected]

World Learning President and CEO Donald Steinberg was recognized last week by Futures Without Violence with their 2015 Global Impact Award for his work as an advocate for the rights of women and girls and to reduce gender-based violence globally.

“I am honored and humbled to accept this award on behalf of the World Learning family,” Steinberg said. “Empowering women and girls in all facets of society is one the single greatest boons to building peace, prosperity, and good governance. Ensuring that historically marginalized groups such as women, religious and ethnic minorities, indigenous populations, people with disabilities and the LGBT community are free to participate in all aspects of political, social and economic development must continue to be among our highest global priorities.”

Steinberg received the award at the Open Square Summit, hosted by Futures Without Violence and George Washington University’s Global Women’s Institute, in Washington, DC on April 28. The event, Safe Passage: Gender-Based Violence and Global Education, explored the obstacles to education for women and girls worldwide. It brought together more than 100 international leaders, including Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Cathy Russell, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women Caroline Bettinger-Lopez, and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom Rt. Honorable Baroness Lindsay Northover.

Steinberg and World Learning’s Senior Inclusive Development Advisor Jennifer Collins-Foley also wrote an article for  the conference publication on combating gender-based violence in school settings.

“We know that education can be a critical deterrent to violence,” said Esta Soler, founder and president of Futures Without Violence. “When women and when girls live and learn free from violence, they’re better able to fully participate in every aspect of society, economy, and government.”

The event culminated in a ceremony to recognize Steinberg and the work of the three other award recipients, Julie T. Katzman, executive vice president and CEO of the Inter-American Development Bank; Brisa Liliana De Angulo, founder and co-president of Breeze Hope in Bolivia; and Saniya Alhalabia, CEO of the Styria Relief Network. Previous award winners include Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Ambassador Melanne Verveer.