2025 Woman of Courage Award
On June 21, Juanita Garcia Valverde was presented with UNANIMA International’s 2025 Woman of Courage Award. UNANIMA’s Executive Director, Jean Quinn, DW, along with the Congregation Leader of Bon Secours, Rose Marie Jasinski, CBS, and UI Board Member and Bon Secours Director of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, Simone Blanchard, traveled to Casma in Peru to present Juana with her award.
Juana García, better-known as Sister Juanita, has spent her life helping those who are disadvantaged and the furthest left behind in our world. In her home country of Spain she worked with leprosy patients, homeless women, and the elderly. With the support of Caritas, she also opened a homeless shelter in her home town of Elche.
As a lay missionary, Sister Juanita came to Peru 41 years ago to support people in the poorest areas of the department of Ancash (Cordillera Negra). She then went to the town of Casma, where she opened a medical center, and then a home named “San José”, to shelter homeless people that are elderly or mentally ill. At the San Jose home, Sister Juanita cares for over 100 residents, often with limited resources. Not only does her home provide its residents with housing, food, and medical care, it is a place where those most in need are treated with affection and kindness, and have their dignity restored.
It was an honor for UNANIMA International to present Sister Juanita with this award, and have many people in the community and the nursing home attend and participate in the ceremony.
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