A woman who managed aid to Kurds in northern Iraq was one of four people Wednesday who were honored at the second annual Nakasone Yasuhiro Awards at a ceremony at Capitol Tokyu Hotel in Tokyo.

The Institute for International Policy Studies gave Miho Kishitani of the nonprofit organization “Peace Winds Japan” the Award of Excellence and 1 million yen.

Kishitani managed Peace Winds relief work for the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq from 2000 to 2003.

The IIPS, chaired by former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, described Kishitani as “a role model for young people working in nongovernmental organizations and NPOs to someday emulate.”