Two Greek nominees among the five pre-selected by the European Economic and Social Committee for the 2016 Civil Society Migration Prize to reward inspiring and successful examples of human solidarity.
The record number of 283 applications for this year's EESC Civil Society Prize on Migration, has clearly shown that migration and the integration of refugees continues to be a major area of action and concern for European Civil Society. The 2016 Prize will reward model and inspiring projects that represent the best of human solidarity in Europe and which have demonstrated real on the ground impact.
The EESC has shortlisted 5 applications from Hungary, Germany, Spain and two from Greece for the 2016 European Civil Society Prize on Migration. This year's Prize is intended to go to individuals and organisations who have distinguished themselves through their work in improving the lives of migrants and fostering their integration in European society.
The shortlisted applications include;
- a German-led project which played a role in saving up to 5,000 lives at sea,
- a Greek baker who took the initiative to distribute bread and pastries to thousands of hungry and desperate migrants in need,
- a Spanish project which literally brought thousands of local residents and migrants to the table to eat and understand each other, and
- two other projects which were pioneering in Hungary and Greece in assisting migrants and facilitating their integration in society.
According to EESC President George Dassis; "Civil society organisations have played a fundamental role in the recent migration crisis and these projects provide inspiration for us all. Civil mobilisation has the force to change the course of history and in awarding the annual EESC Civil Society Prize, I hope that these exemplary projects will inspire us all and show how, when we work together, European citizens can make the EU a better place for all."
The winning projects amongst those shortlisted will be announced in an award ceremony on 15th December at the EESC Plenary session in Brussels.
Those selected will share a cash prize of 50,000 Euros in recognition for their work in order to give a much needed boost to their projects so that even more people can be helped. The Civil Society Prize, now in its eighth year, is awarded each year to an important area of the EESC’s activities. The 2015 prize was dedicated to civil society organisations working to combat poverty.
Since the start of the refugee crisis, the EESC has conducted fact-finding missions in 11 EU countries (Austria, Sweden, Greece, Hungary, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Malta, Poland and Bulgaria) plus Turkey, enabling EESC members to discover the reality of conditions on the ground. In its March 2016 report, the Committee put forward a number of recommendations. Above all, the EU and Member States must unite in implementing a fair, common asylum system. Refugees need safe, legal routes into Europe, followed by long-term integration policies.
Dionysis Arvanitakis (Greece) bakes daily over 100 Kg of bread for refugees in Kos. The 77-year-old baker fills his truck and distributes his fresh bread to the hopeless men, women and children who land in Kos, soaked and exhausted. He was one of the first to assist the refugees who were arriving by hundreds every day on the island. His action inspired colleagues, citizens, hoteliers and many more to follow his example. Mr Arvanitakis knows deprivation. He left his home town in Greece as a young man and emigrated to Australia looking for a better future. In 1970 he came back to Greece with his wife and settled in her native Kos, where they started their own baking business. Why does he help refugees? His words are disarming: small children from Syria, Afghanistan show us the bread with their hands. They do not know the word for food. What man's heart can remain unmoved when he sees a small child eat the soil? EC President Jean-Claude Junker mentioned Arvanitakis in his State of the Union speech on 9 September, saying that "Europe is the baker in Kos who gives away his bread to hungry and weary souls", thus honouring inspiring people who make Europe proud of its solidarity and integration principles.
ILIAKTIDA (Greece) is a non-profit organization based in Lesvos which has been helping cover the basic needs of refugees, migrants and their families through the work of volunteers. Families who had lost their children in the sea, devastated parents, exhausted old people on a wheelchair, unaccompanied minors who have seen their homes being destroyed getting through ILIAKTIDA's structures social, legal, medical and psychological support from professional staff. They also provide the newcomers with information about their rights as well as Greek language lessons. ILIAKTIDA's main concern and goal has been to get refugees out of camps and into local communities. Based on this concept, they have been running local guesthouses and apartments where refugees can start a new daily routine, do their shopping, cook their meals, enjoy local cultural activities, meet the locals and develop friendly relationships with them. The organization encourages migrants to work on its actions and to share their experience with the newcomers and the locals. A certain number of migrants and refugees have even found work and made the first steps of a new, independent and integrated life in Greece.
http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.press-releases.41045