Kesz Valdez, Homeless 13-Year Old Filipino Boy Wins $130,000 In Peace Prize Money: "Our Health Is Our Wealth!"

By Mereb Gebremariam, Mstars Reporter | Sep 26, 2012 04:05 PM EDT

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Kesz Valdez, a homeless Filipino boy wins $130,000 in prize money.  The prestigious award was given to the boy after displaying a commitment for improving the lives of fellow street kids.

As a poverty stricken child, Valdez slept in an open tomb and lived off of a trash dump for the majority of his life. According to the Global Post, Valdez survived abuse, and was taken to seek help after being viscously abused. After that experience he founded "Championing Community Children" a charity to help other homeless children and handed more than 5,000 gifts such as, clothes, shoes, toys and candy in the slums of Manila.

The heroic teenager was awarded this year's International Children's Peace Prize in The Hague this month, and received the prize money was presented by Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu. Because of his drive and desire to help, Valdez assisted major than 10,000 kids who were are subjected to child labor, abuse, and violence.

In addition, to supporting the poor children, "Valdez's message to children around the world: "Our health is our wealth!  Being healthy will enable you to play, to think clearly, to get up and go to school and love the people around you in so many ways." 

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