"Freedom is not something we wait for, but something we become. It is a deliberate, personal choice, and the sum of those choices forms the civic ethos that must be renewed every day." The photo depicts 2025 peace prize laureate Maria Corina Machado signing the guest book at the Norwegian Nobel Institute, joining the ranks of other peace prize laureates who have left their mark. Machado missed the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony by a few hours, as her travel to Norway required a secret departure from Venezuela. After a difficult journey, she was able to arrive in Oslo, appear on the balcony of the Grand Hotel – where peace prize laureates traditionally greet the public, and visit the Norwegian Nobel Institute. Read more about her life and her tireless work to restore democracy in Venezuela: