Benjamin Prize

The Benjamin Prize was established as a Norwegian prize to counter racism in 2002. The prize is awarded in memory of Benjamin Hermansen, who at the age of 15 years, was murdered in Holmlia, Søndre Nordstrand in Oslo, Norway. The death was racially motivated. [This article was translated at request from the Norwegian Wikipedia article on this subject (retrieved 11 October 2008). See the interwiki link for the material in the original in Norwegian. ]

The prize is awarded each year on January 27th in conjunction with the commemoration of the Holocaust. On this date Soviet forces liberated concentration camps in Auschwitz and Birkenau. The prize is awarded to a school that actively works against racism and discrimination.

The work for which the award is given is to be characterized by:
* Anchoring: The school's work against racism and discrimination represent a long-term commitment.
* Involvement: The school's work against racism and discrimination involves faculty and students at the school.
* Highlighting: The school's work against racism and discrimination is visible both in the school and in the broader community.

The prize consists of 100,000 kroner, and a miniature bust of Benjamin Hermansen on Holmlia. Ivar Sjaastad created the sculpture which is included as part of the award.

The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training awards the prize. The jury which determines the recipient consists of Marit Hermansen (Benjamin’s mother), and representatives from the Antiracism Center, the Sami Parliament of Norway, Union of Education Norway [ [http://www.utdanningsforbundet.no/UdfTemplates/Page____10250.aspx| The Union of Education Norway is Norway's largest trade union for teaching personnel with more than 140,000 members.] ] , Parents Committee for Primary and Lower Secondary Education, [ A Norwegian representative organization of parents with children in primary school which serves as an advisory body for the Ministry in matters related to cooperation between home and school.] , and the Norwegian Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities.

Winners

* 2002 - "Sunndal" high school in Sunndalsøra
* 2003 - "Fjell" school in Drammen
* 2004 - "Ila" school in Trondheim
* 2005 - "Gommerud" school in Bærum
* 2006 - "Mandal" secondary school in Mandal
* 2007 - "Skotselv" school in Øvre Eiker in Buskerud

Reference