Europese Vrijwilligersprijzen uitgereikt (en)

Three European Voluntary Service projects awarded by President Barroso, Commissioner Vassiliou and MEP Papanikolaou

European Voluntary Service, which is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary, has helped over 50 000 young Europeans to volunteer. It is now widely recognised as an EU "success story" , said Androulla Vassiliou i, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, opening the European Awards Ceremony that took place in Antwerp on 17 May 2011 in the presence of President Barroso and MEP Georgios Papanikolaou. You are an example not only to your peers but to all Europeans through your dedication. You have proved to us that the European Union is not just about market. It is millions of us taking action and dedicating their lives to build a better society , said President Barroso i before handing over the awards.

Three European Voluntary Service projects, granted by the Greek, UK and Latvian Youth in Action National Agencies, have been awarded in the categories: Global Society, Innovative Society and Inclusive Society.

Approximately 75 ex-EVS volunteers and representatives of their hosting organisations - NGOs and municipalities - came to Antwerp to participate in the Award Ceremony and in the Youth on the Move debate highlighting the importance of the non-formal learning in the overall educational process of young people. I see how much concern there is about the recognition of the non-formal education. Let me assure you that, although within the Youth on the Move the formal education is very prominent, informal learning is equally important for us, stressed Commissioner Vassiliou when closing the debate.

Luisa, a volunteer from Spain, and Rodi from the World Wildlife Fund - Greece, were awarded by President Barroso for an EVS project in the category Global Society: "Monitoring Black Vultures in the Dadia Forest".

MEP Georgios Papanikolaou i awarded Sabrina, a volunteer from Italy, and Andrea, a representative of the hosting organisation Public Achievement in the UK, for an EVS project in the category Innovative Society: "Helping to Mend Fences in Northern Ireland".

Commissioner Vassiliou handed over the awards to Andrea, a volunteer from Ireland, and Ruta from the Adult Education Centre in Latvia for an EVS project in the category Inclusive Society: "Challenging Young People in Cesis".

EVS volunteers of all EVS projects represented in Antwerp with President Barroso, Commissioner Vassiliou and MEP Papanikolaou.