A culture of living for others is essential to sustainable peace. Service for others is a catalyst for personal and community transformation. Service in other countries and cultures develops awareness of and a sense of responsibility for the wider society and world, forming bonds of heart that transcend historic differences, preparing young leaders of character who can become agents of social transformation. The Global Peace Foundation has promoted cross-cultural, international service to protect the environment, support education, respond to disasters and foster good citizenship, and has recognized service best practices in national and regional conferences and annual conventions. The Outstanding Service Award recognizes an individual who exemplifies a life of service to humanity that has not only addressed critical issues and external needs but has also fostered a culture of service, compassion, and living for others.
Dr. Marco E. Roncarati is Social Affairs Officer at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand. ESCAP works to support, protect and empower all population groups, with a particular focus on the needs of women, youth, the disabled, elderly and migrants. As the most comprehensive regional intergovernmental forum in Asia-Pacific, ESCAP supports nations and civil societies in strengthening sustainable development and advancing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. In October 2014, ESCAP, in collaboration with UNESCO, the Global Peace Foundation and the Global Young Leaders Academy, launched the Asia-Pacific Peace and Development Service Alliance at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. As co-chair of APPDSA, Dr. Roncarati has championed and empowered young people across the AsiaPacific committed to serving their communities through volunteerism. Following the tragic 2015 earthquake that struck Nepal, Dr. Roncarati, GPF and APPDSA supported a 2,000 volunteer youth mobilization, Rise Nepal, to provide emergency relief to 3,000 victims and their families.