After receiving numerous applications from across Europe for the ENAR Foundation Awards for a racism-free Europe, the international Jury has now selected the winners. The Awards will be given to the winners at the ENAR Foundation’s Charity Gala on 24 June in Brussels.

The president of the ENAR Foundation, Chibo Onyeji, said: “I am deeply impressed by the exceptional, innovative and encouraging projects that have been selected. It is wonderful to see how diverse actions against racism can be. Every individual project presents an added value for society and thereby for all of us.”

The jury was responsible for awarding one NGO, one individual and one company for a successful or innovative commitment towards a racism-free Europe.

- The Award in the category ‘individuals’ goes to Forward Maisokwadzo who works as development worker for City of Sanctuary in Bristol, United Kingdom. He puts all his efforts into making Bristol proud to be a place of safety for people seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. He managed to get over 100 pledges of support from business, the voluntary sector, Bristol City Council, faith communities and over 1000 individuals across the city of Bristol so that Bristol City Council on 16 November voted to give their support to the City of Sanctuary movement in Bristol.

- The winner in the category ‘NGOs’ is Antidiskriminierungsnetzwerk Berlin des Türkischen Bund in Berlin-Brandenburg, the anti-discrimination network of the Berlin-Brandenburg Turkish Association. They support and counsel people of colour who experience discrimination. Their work includes public campaigning, publication of brochures/reports as well as networking and the organisation of diversity and empowerment trainings. They do all their work from the perspective of people of colour - the only organisation using this method in Berlin.

- Solas Community Arts wins in the category ‘companies’. They are based in Galway, Ireland, and facilitate creative workshops which explore and tackle themes of social inclusion and human rights, within a community development context. They work with disadvantaged youth, elderly people, women’s groups, travellers and asylum seekers.

All the winners are united in the aim of a racism-free Europe and of a peaceful coexistence of different cultures in Europe. “The Awardees represent excellent examples of how to act against racism in a practical and efficient manner. These different commitments all over Europe are also a great encouragement in our endeavour to end racism in Europe”, said Onyeji.

Read the press release