SocialErasmus receives civil society prize

Erasmus Student Network received the first prize of the European Economic and Social Committees Civil Society prize during their plenary session in Brussels the 7th of December. The prize was awarded to ESN’s flagship project SocialErasmus, a project allowing international students to integrate, learn and give an added value to their local communities. More than 50 project nominations were evaluated by the jury of the EESC awarding three projects – 1# SocialErasmus, Erasmus Student Network, #2 Transeuropa Festival, European Alternatives, #3 "Light on the Rights" Bus Tour, Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions. “We are very proud to see the efforts of our network recognized” said Tania Berman, president of ESN.

The prize and the recognition will be invested back in the project, allowing it to develop more during 2012 when it will set sail as the flagship project of ESN. SocialErasmus will play a key role in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Erasmus Programme, showing Europe an example of the excellent European citizenship. In the beginning of May 2012 the SocialErasmus week will take place all around Europe, bringing together several celebrations – the one of SocialErasmus, where hundreds of local communities around Europe will be in the spotlight of the project, the 25th anniversary of the successful Erasmus Programme and Europe day.

SocialErasmus is a project aimed for “Enrichment of the Society through International Students”. The project nominated by EUCIS-LLL promotes a social attitude among international students and facilitates their integration into the local community, exploring the added value that lies within the diversity in Europe. More concretely the project allows international students to be a part of their local communities and contribute to a positive impact on them through the three pillars of the project – education, environment and charity. For example, the students act as volunteers, taking part in language or cultural lessons in schools, picking up garbage to clean forests or beaches and raising money for charity.

The Civil Society Prize was created to reward civil society initiatives that foster European values. During the ceremony the president of the EESC, Staffan Nilsson stressed his concerns about xenophobia and extreme nationalist movements and declarations that promote hate and separation - this emphasizes the importance of the prize and the theme of this year “Dialogue and participation fostering EU values: integration, diversity, solidarity and tolerance”. As the house of civil society EESC sees the prize as a symbol for recognition of excellent initiatives with a positive impact on the lives of Europeans, promoting the European identity and integration.

The prize consisted of a sum of money and a glass statuette now resident of the ESN office in Brussels. The award ceremony was followed by a reception where once again the organisations were thanked for their excellent examples of civil society initiatives.

Watch the video of the winners http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.videos.21045
For more information please visit the website of the eesc http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.organised-civil-society-prize-2011