On 10 December 1979, in Oslo, Norway, Gonxhe Bojaxhiu received the Nobel Peace Prize. She became the first Albanian to win the world’s most prestigious award.

The Nobel Committee praised Mother Teresa for her tireless work for the poor, the sick and the orphaned. It said she offered deep, selfless service that brought hope and dignity to suffering humanity. Her mission challenged poverty and despair and inspired global charity through the Missionaries of Charity.

During the ceremony, a cleric asked her where she came from.

She replied: “I was born in Skopje. I studied in London. I live in Calcutta. I work for all the poor people of the world. My homeland is a small country called Albania.”

Mother Teresa struggled to speak fluent Albanian after 70 years away from home. She lived most of her life in non-Albanian environments. Still, she never denied her Albanian origin.

She cared for 7,500 children in 60 schools.
She treated 960,000 sick people in 213 dispensaries.
She helped 47,000 leprosy patients in 54 clinics.
She supported 3,400 abandoned elderly people in 20 care homes.
She adopted 160 illegitimate and orphaned children.

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