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The World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child 2002:
Nkosi Johnson
portrait Nkosi Johnson

Nkosi Johnson, the little boy with the big eyes, gave the children with Aids in South Africa a voice that reached around the world...

Nkosi died 12 years old on June 1, 2001 – the day the International Children’s Day is celebrated in South Africa, a day dedicated to the welfare of children. But during his short life Nkosi did a lot of thinking about why the government of South Africa and the adults of the world don’t do every-thing they can to protect children from being born with HIV. And why they don’t take care about the children who are born with HIV – children who will eventually develop Aids and die very young.

> Meet Nkosi
Why has Nkosi been awarded?
Nkosi Johnson from South Africa received posthumously The World’s Children’s Prize and The Global Friends’ Award 2002 for his fight for the rights of children with Aids. He fought for their rights to attend school and be treated like other children. He opened a home for poor mothers and children with Aids. He urged the South African government to give mothers with HIV/Aids anti-HIV drugs that would save the lives of tens of thousands of children in South Africa every year. Even after his death Nkosi continues to be a role model for children with Aids and for the healthy children who he taught not be afraid of children with HIV/Aids and to respect them
Sign of the home 'Nkosi Haven'
Nkosi's Haven
is the name of the home Nkosi found where mothers with Aids and their children can live together.
portrait Moshe Nhlapo
Moshe misses Mum and Dad Moshe thinks about his mother and father every evening when he goes to bed. They both died of Aids when Moshe was nine.

> Meet Moshe
portrait Manini Mkhabela
Manini wants to be an artist and help children
– I never dared to go out and play with my friends when my mother became ill. I always sat at home with her because I was so afraid that she would die, says Manini, 12, who lives at Nkosi’s Haven.

> Meet Manini
portrait Eric Nichols
Nkosis best friend Eric is not afraid
When Eric was in second grade he met Nikosi Johnson for the first time. 
– Nkosi sat by himself in the school playground because no one dared to play with him. He looked very small and I felt sorry for him. Even though I was afraid too I decided to go up and speak to Nkosi. From that day on we became best friends, he and I.

> Meet Eric
Nhlanhla Nkabinde with his car of steel wire
Toys made of steel wire
Most of South Africa’s children live in poor shanty towns. To buy toy cars is much too expensive so instead they build their own cars. When they come home after school they sit behind the family’s house and bend steel wire.

> Meet Nhlanhla och Mpho
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