Brussels, 24 June 2011 - The ENAR Foundation will present its first Awards for a racism-free Europe to an exceptional individual, NGO and company during its Charity Gala this evening.

The ENAR Foundation, the first anti-racist foundation in Europe set up by the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), has selected three winners for the Awards, which celebrate an individual, an NGO and a company whose commitment has contributed to achieving a racism-free Europe and to making equality for all a concrete reality. The awards are sponsored by three companies committed to diversity and equality: Adecco Group (individuals), L’Oreal (NGOs) and Sodexo (companies).

- 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.

The president of the ENAR Foundation, Chibo Onyeji, said: “These Awards give visibility to the many actors who strive, often anonymously and against all odds, to improve our collective daily life by pushing for inclusion, respect, diversity and equality at all levels of our society. In particular in the light of the current climate of increasing xenophobia and populist rhetoric, we need to keep the work towards achieving equality alive, for the benefit of all members of society.”

For more information:
ENAR Foundation - 64 Rue Gallait, B-1030 Brussels, Belgium

Tel: +32 (0)2 240 57 20

Mobile: +32 (0)473 49 05 31

Email: info@enarfoundation.eu

Read the press release in German - in French