Zayed Award for Human Fraternity: Meet Sister Nelly, a nun transforming lives of female prisoners

Dubai: Almost 50 years ago, in the cold halls of a Chilean prison, a 17-year-old Nelly Correa first witnessed the harsh realities that would shape her life’s work.

Aspirations to pursue a career as a prison guard motivated her work with prisoners. During her first visit to a prison, behind the locked gates and iron bars, she saw women - mothers, daughters, and sisters, often abandoned and unable to read or write. With a deep commitment to women’s empowerment, it was here the teenage Nelly made a solemn pledge: to dedicate her own life to giving these women a second chance at life.

Today, Sister Nelly - now a Catholic nun often referred to as Mother Nelly by the women she helps and a winner of the 2024 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity - is the driving force behind Fundación Mujer Levántate – ‘Woman Standing Up’ Foundation.

As the new winners of the $1 million award are set to be announced on Friday, Gulf News is looking back at the impact of the award in Sister Nelly’s work.

Established in 2008, Sister Nelly’s foundation offers the poorest and most marginalised women new opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration into society, supporting thousands of women, especially prisoners. Last year alone, the foundation supported 300 women and 700 children.

It was in recognition of these efforts that Sister Nelly was selected as one of the honourees of the 2024 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, an annual independent and international award recognising individuals and entities across the world, working tirelessly to advance human fraternity and peaceful coexistence.

The global award – named after the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE - was launched in 2019 following the historic meeting between Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed Al Tayeb, in Abu Dhabi, in which they signed the Document on Human Fraternity.

The accolade was given to Sister Nelly for her work in empowering and supporting girls and women – a calling she discovered at a young age after witnessing the abuse of a young girl in her community which went unpunished.

“The first thing I did was to go to the school authorities to report the abuse, but back then in Chile, child abuse was not a subject of concern,” Sister Nelly recalled in an online interview with Gulf News.

“It was hard to make her understand that it wasn’t her fault, that she wouldn’t be scared for life. For the girl, nothing concrete was done except for the emotional support I could provide her, though I was inexperienced. I welcomed and accompanied her.”

Fast-forward to 2024 - the ‘Woman Standing Up’ Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary with Sister Nelly reflecting on the origins of her efforts to empower vulnerable women.

“Every woman deserves a path forward, and at our organisation, we are committed to helping women in prison transform their lives and create a future free from the constraints of incarceration,” she said.

Her work is about offering a second chance and helping address the challenges that many women have faced in their lives.

“If we had better education, green spaces where children could play, and dignified housing, we would see less crime,” she pointed out.

Sister Nelly’s perspective is that prevention must be prioritised to break the cycle of women committing crimes, which she says is rooted not only in extreme poverty and abuse, but also a lack of hope for a more promising future.

Sister Nelly’s methods have proven to be remarkably effective, with nearly 94 percent of programme participants remaining conviction-free within two years of release.

Upon their release, Fundación Mujer Levántate offers safe spaces for women released from prison with nowhere to turn, providing shelter, counselling, and job placement services to help them rebuild their lives.

“When women are released, we pick them up if they have nowhere to go,” she said. This support helps women overcome the harsh realities they face upon release, providing them with the resources they need to rebuild their future.

Sister Nelly highlighted that many women are not aware that they are worthy of respect. Illustrating the transformative power of the foundation’s work, her core workshop, Yo Primero Que Todo (Me First and Foremost), empowers women to reclaim their self-worth.

“When the women realise their value, they regain their dignity,” Sister Nelly said. “The shift in mindset helps women take control of their lives, heal from trauma, and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.”

The foundation’s impact is reflected in the stories of women like Magaly, who was imprisoned for theft and is now a seamstress with a steady job and rebuilt family. Like Magaly, many women are now thankful that Sister Nelly showed them that they deserved a second chance.

Receiving the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity last year was a turning point for Sister Nelly and her foundation.

“The prize gave our work visibility and financial resources to help us reach women in new areas in Chile,” she said. “Receiving the award allowed the foundation to expand our work to prisons in regions outside Santiago - like the city of Concepción in the south of Chile and the coastal region of Valparaíso.”

Since receiving the award, Sister Nelly’s impact has grown beyond Chile. She has been invited to share her story globally, inspiring others. Echoing the award’s values, she believes that “together, we can create fraternity and build peace.”

Her belief in second chances has transformed countless lives.

“When I see women find hope, reconnect with their families, and rebuild their lives with dignity, I know my mission has been fulfilled. I’ll never stop – every woman deserves to rise and be embraced by compassion and unity,” she said.

Meanwhile, the sixth annual award ceremony will be held on February 4, World Humanitarian Day marked by the United Nations.

The award celebrates the contributions of both influential global leaders and dedicated grassroots activists in the field of humanitarian work. Past recipients include UN Secretary-General António Guterres, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan, as well as notable religious figures such as Pope Francis and Ahmed Al Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar. Additionally, charitable organisations that provide vital aid to those in need across regions from Haiti to Kenya and beyond have also been recognised.