Context
Issues such as the integration of people with disabilities, domestic violence against women, human trafficking and drug addictions have not been properly addressed in most of the CEE countries and there is still a lot to be done. Increased poverty levels and negative job creation rates are making it even harder for those already on the margins of societies to integrate properly. As a result of increased poverty and the everyday struggle to make ends meet, the empathy of the general population towards marginalised groups is not improving.
This is just a glimpse into the social realities that NGOs from the CEE countries are dealing with in their everyday work for the social integration of the marginalised groups. And most of the times, their efforts and achievements are hardly known by the majority population.
Since its first call for applications in 2007, the biennial ERSTE Foundation Award for Social Integration has grown significantly and meets broad interests in the region. In the last three calls, the large number of applied projects pointed to the very vital civil sector, yet, also to the still largely unmet needs for a truly integrative and cohesive society in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe.
Impact
The ERSTE Foundation Award for Social Integration gives due recognition to the role of individuals and groups in this region in creating societies with equal opportunities for everyone. By promoting the best practice projects and organisations, we promote the idea of equal societies for all, the necessity of social integration and social change.
Aside from the money prizes, both shortlisted and winning projects receive membership in the Social Integration Network, along with regional media recognition, PR support for a 2 year period from professional PR consultants, capacity building workshops on topics such as developing social businesses as an alternative way of financing, building media relations abilities and social media skills.
Facts
The Award addresses organisations of all sizes equally and is open to the public sector, civil society, private initiatives and religious communities as well as to the media.
The first call in 2007 received 400 applications from the organisations of the 4 participating countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia), while in 2011, there were more than 4 times as many: 1,850 applications from 12 participating countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia).
Not only the number of applications has increased, also the prize money is over 7 times higher: from 85,000 EUR in 2007 to 613,000 EUR in 2011.
Project Manager
Dejan Petrović
T +43 (0)50100 - 15421
email
this also led to poverty and hopelessness, amplified by cultural taboos that prevented re-marriage and their economic activity. In trying to overcome depression and post-traumatic stress, the widows and their children from seven villages participated in income-generating activities based on the potential of the family farm. Village groups established thriving enterprises, producing and marketing fresh as well as processed vegetables and fruit under the brand name 'Women Farmers'. The improvements in mental health and physical well-being that arose from increased self-esteem, group cohesion and gentle therapies were extraordinary.
