Note: The following article was written during the lifetime of the prize winner. Karlheinz B\u00f6hm died on May 29, 2014 in Gr\u00f6dig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Karlheinz B\u00f6hm was born on March 16, 1928 and studied German for two semesters in Graz before pursuing a film career. He is known by many as the actor who played Emperor Franz Joseph in the trilogy of films about Empress Sissi with Romy Schneider, but in his later years he founded the organization \u0093Menschen f\u00fcr Menschen\u0094 or \u0093People for People.\u0094<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMenschen f\u00fcr Menschen\u201d (People for People) strives to create an environmentally friendly living environment in Ethiopia. B\u00f6hm initiated the first \u201cMenschen f\u00fcr Menschen\u201d project in October 1981 when he visited a refugee camp in Ethiopia. This first project, which consisted of establishing four villages, successfully settled the refugees there. Over the past twenty years, the organization has grown considerably and now employs more than 780 people in nine regions in Ethiopia. Its focus is on projects in rural areas that are both sustainable and compatible with the community. In every venture, it strives to integrate the regional population in such a way that the projects can be sustained over the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the last twenty years the organization has significantly increased in scope, and has more than 780 employees in nine regions of Ethiopia. Their main focus is creating projects in rural areas that are sustainable, and that are integrated within the community. In all their endeavors they strive to incorporate the local population, so that the project lasts in the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of their projects have included creating water systems, schools, and reforming health care concerns. In December of 2010, B\u00f6hm received the \u0084Ehrenherz\u0093 (\u0093Honorary Heart\u0094) award from the organization \u0084Ein Herz f\u00fcr Kinder\u0093 (\u0093A Heart for Children\u0094) at their annual Gala. He also received the Balzan Prize for humanity, peace and brotherhood of man in 2007. He died of sickness on May 29th 2014 in Salzburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n