About this picture: Zilda Arns Neumann August 25, 1934 January 12, 2010 was a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated Brazilian pediatrician and aid worker.
Sister of Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns, former Archbishop of's o Paulo known for her efforts against the Brazilian military dictatorship, Zilda became internationally known for founding a Catholic pastoral care for poor children.
Her humanitarian work, which also included the poor and the elderly, spanned over three decades.
Zilda died on January 12, 2010 as a result of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
The exact circumstances of her death are not yet known.
Born in Forquilhinha to a family of German immigrants, She is the aunt of Senator Fl vio Arns. Arns was the founder and international coordinator of Pastoral da Crian a. She also coordinated Pastoral da Pessoa Idosa, and social action organisms of the Confer ncia Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil.
Widowed since 1978, a mother of five and grandmother of nine, she was awarded with several honorary citizen titles throughout Brazil.
In 2006, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work.
Holder of a degree in Medicine, Arns further studied public health, with the aim of assisting poor children in environments plagued with high child mortality rates, malnutrition and violence.
Her approach was based on familial education in order to help decrease the rates of petty crime and preventable diseases.
Death
Zilda Arns was killed by the Haiti earthquake of 12 January 2010 in Port-au-Prince, where she was carrying out humanitarian activities.
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