Luxembourg duchess wins Path to Peace Award

Published: 2006-06-20

UNITED NATIONS (CNS) -- Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg received the 2006 Path to Peace Award from the Path to Peace Foundation, an agency established to carry out projects to support the Holy See's mission to the United Nations. The duchess received the award at a June 13 dinner at U.N. headquarters. Since 1997, the duchess has served as a goodwill ambassador of UNESCO and supports organizations that are active in the fields of child protection and microcredit, or small loans for as little as $100 given to poor people to help them start a business. She has also dedicated her efforts to children and families in danger in Luxembourg. Born Maria Teresa Mestre in Havana, she left Cuba with her family during the Cuban revolution, and settled in New York City. In 1965, she and her family took up permanent residence in Geneva. In 1980, she graduated from the University of Geneva with a degree in political science. She met Prince Henri of Luxembourg while studying at the university. They married in 1981 and have five children.

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