Afghanistan, June 6 -- Afghan education activist Matiullah Wesa, founder of the Pen Path organization and a prominent advocate for children's education, has received France's 2026 Freedom Prize, an award recognizing efforts in education, human rights and freedom.
Wesa announced the award on Saturday in a post on Facebook, saying he received the prize during a ceremony in the French city of Caen. He thanked the people of Afghanistan for supporting his work and advocacy on behalf of education, particularly for children deprived of schooling.
The activist said the cash component of the award belongs to him personally but that he intends to use the funds to build schools in remote areas of Afghanistan, where access to education remains limite...