One of this year’s award recipients is Lion’s Roar Associate Editor and co-editor of Black and Buddhist, Pamela Ayo Yetunde.
The “Outstanding Women in Buddhism” awards will be held by the International Women’s Meditation Center Foundation (IWMCF) on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2022 at Boonyaniti Temple in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, and online via Zoom.
This year, 19 women have been chosen to receive the award, including Lion’s Roar Associate Editor and co-editor of Black and Buddhist along with Cheryl A. Giles, Pamela Ayo Yetunde, in part for her “ability to inform, educate, and move people to inquire about race, compassion, and Buddhist justice.”
The IWMCF is based in Rayong, Thailand, and aims to create gender equality in Buddhism by “establishing bhikkunis as leaders in society.” The foundation offers a number of services including post-graduate education for bhikkhunis, IT and media services for women dharma teachers, and meditation and Buddhist practice instruction for women and girls.
The “Outstanding Women in Buddhism” award was founded in 2002 by Bhikkhuni Rattanavali and Bhikkhuni Dr. Lee with the objective of recognizing Buddhist women’s accomplishments in celebration of International Women’s Day, and to “celebrate the acts of courage and determination by women in the history of Buddhism.” After 20 years of this annual award, nearly 200 women from over 20 countries have received this award.
The 2022 award recipients for Outstanding Woman in Buddhism are as follows:
- Bhikkuni Ani Choejin Samdrup (Thailand)
- Bhikkhuni Der-Chia, (Taiwan)
- Bhikkhuni Dr. Jian Hui, Taiwan
- Bhikkhuni Liao Guo, China
- Bhikkhuni Surindra, Thailand,
- Bhikkhuni Tsung-Tueng, Thailand
- Chen Yun Chang, Taiwan,
- Ching Yi Chi, Taiwan
- Khenmo Dromla, USA
- Kim Behan, USA
- Maechee Orawan Maneeratanachot, Thailand,
- Martine Batchelor, France
- Mei Yun Tang, Taiwan,
- Merry Kham Oo, Myanmar
- Mingli C. Shih, Taiwan,
- Pamela Ayo Yetunde, USA
- Saijai Wannual, Thailand,
- Thanissara, UK
- Venerable Gawa Khandro, Canada
For more information on the award, visit IWMCF’s website.
