'Man to Man the world o'er, Shall brothers be for a' that. . . .'

Robert Burns' work is rightly famous the world over, not only for the beauty and poetry of Burns' words themselves but also for his fiercely humanitarian stance, a quality that shines through everything the great Scotsman wrote. It seems only fitting that his spiritual legacy should continue to be honoured by the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award.

The aims of the award – now in its seventh year – are, like the man's poetry, simple and direct: to recognise the work of people who have put helping others above all other concerns. The winner receives the seemingly antique sum of 1759 guineas (an amount that signifies the year of the bard's birth and the coinage then in circulation) as well as a specially commissioned hand-made award.

At this year's prestigious awards ceremony in Ayr, just a few short miles from Burns' birthplace at Alloway, the 2008 Burns Humanitarian Award went to Jonathan Kaplan.

Kaplan – a hospital surgeon, a flying doctor, a ship's medical officer, a battlefield surgeon, a doctor in crisis-hit countries, a contributor to documentary films and a celebrated author – won the award in the face of stiff competition from actor and UNICEF ambassador Ewan McGregor, and founder of the Ozanam Clubs for disabled young people James Lynch.

Sir Tom McKillop, Chair of the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award judging panel, said "This was one of the most difficult selections we have had to make to date as we received so many outstanding nominations for individuals and charities from around the world. James Lynch, Ewan McGregor and Jonathan Kaplan are all very deserving of the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award for their outstanding commitment to improving the lives of others. We hope their efforts will continue to be recognised and inspire others all over the world to save, improve or enrich the lives of others."

Jonathan grew up in South Africa and studied medicine in the University of Cape Town. After serving his internship in hospitals that provided medical care to the country's black population, he went into exile to avoid serving in the South African Army under the apartheid regime. Since then he has worked around the world as a doctor in developing countries and crisis areas, sometimes for international medical organisations or where a clinical need became apparent. He has worked in places as diverse as Angola, Burma, Iraq, Kurdistan, Lesotho, Namibia, Brazil, America, Mozambique, England, Eritrea and as a ship's surgeon in the South China Sea. He has written awareness raising features, worked on documentary films about conflict, health and environmental issues, and written two compelling books based on his experiences.

Speaking of Kaplan's achievements, Sir Tom went on to say, "There is no doubt that this truly captures the enduring spirit of Burns; his connection with people's cares and desire for a better life." On receiving the award, Kaplan said: "I'm absolutely overwhelmed to have won the 2008 Robert Burns Humanitarian Award and I'm thrilled to be receiving it in the home of Scotland's national poet and one of the great humanitarian advocates, Robert Burns".

Kaplan practised medicine in many different areas, most dangerously as a surgeon in humanitarian crises and war zones. He said, "I have worked alongside people of great generosity of spirit and been inspired by many from within and beyond the practice of medicine. I accept this accolade on their behalf, in the hope that it might inspire others to apply their efforts and skills to saving lives".

Fellow nominee, Scotsman James Lynch, who was inspired to set up his charity when he realised his children with Down's syndrome had nowhere to socialise, said: "You can't beat the rewards you get from improving the lives of others. To be recognised for this work through the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award is a real bonus".

Representing Ewan McGregor at the awards ceremony were his parents, James and Carol. "We are very proud of the contribution Ewan has made to the humanitarian causes he supports, and we're delighted that the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award has recognised him for the work that he has done to support UNICEF and CHAS in giving children and young people all over the world opportunities and hope."

The awards ceremony in Ayr launched the 2008 Burns An' a' That! Festival (www.burnsfestival.com), an annual celebration of all things connected with Scotland's national poets and the judging panel included such notable Scots as the author and UNICEF ambassador Andrew O'Hagan, TV broadcaster Muriel Gray, President of the Robert Burns World Federation John Haining and the Burns Festival Chairman, Graham Peterkin.

Kaplan continues a proud tradition of worthy winners of the award. Previous recipients include:

Adi Roche (2007), an Irish woman who was recognised for her efforts in helping the people affected by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Roche is a campaigner for peace, humanitarian aid, and education. As the founder of Chernobyl Children's Project, she has worked for the past 15 years to provide humanitarian aid to the children of Belarus, Western Russia and the Ukraine.

Marla Ruzicka (2006) was a dedicated relief worker and the founder of CIVIC (Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict) she was, in the words of one obituary, "an extraordinary, one-person American aid agency, who worked tirelessly to get compensation for victims of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq." Ruzicka's life was tragically cut short when she was killed by a car bomb in Baghdad in April 2005. She is the only posthumous recipient of the award to date.

Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulowayo (2005) has long been a fierce and brave advocate for human rights in his home country, demanding that his government address the mounting food and economic crises and put an end to widespread torture and rape.

Clive Stafford Smith (2004) is a British lawyer who specialises in the areas of civil rights and the death penalty in the United States of America. He has spent the past 25 years tirelessly working on behalf of defendants facing the death penalty in the USA.

Yitzhak Frankenthal (2003) founded the Bereaved Families Forum, a non-partisan organisation dedicated to bringing comfort to bereaved Israeli parents, Palestinians and Jews, who have lost their children, either during army service or due to acts of terrorism.

Sir John Sulston (2002) received the first ever Burns Humanitarian Award in recognition of devoting his scientific life to biological research. He played a central role in the human genome sequencing project and, in 2002, he also won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Speaking after this year's awards ceremony, the 2008 winner said, "I'm incredibly grateful and rather overwhelmed that people should have thought I was worthy of even being thought of for this kind of thing. I can't quite understand it. I'm sure I'm not the most worthy recipient. I hope I am worthy of it."

Kaplan's inspiring modesty is something that an Ayrshireman like Burns would surely have been proud of. Here's to the next seven years. . . .

Courtesy of Scotland.org - The Scottish Government .