Awards

The winners of the Development Youth Prize announced!

Stockholm (Sweden), 23 October 2009. The cultural centre Kulturhuset welcomed the winners of the Development Youth Prize 2008-09. EU Commissioner Karel De Gucht encouraged the young finalists never to give up their ideas and commitment to help Africa.

54 Students, aged 16 – 18, were rewarded among thousands of participants for their poster and video creations under the overall theme of “Human Development in Africa”, this year’s main topic for the Development Youth Prize. Coming from all across Europe, the finalists and their teachers attended a special three-day trip to Stockholm, culminating in an award ceremony revealing the first and the second prize winners from each European country.

"These artworks show great care and sensitivity for Africa and African people, proving how European youth can help shape a better future for Africa” said EU Commissioner Karel De Gucht, congratulating all the participants. The Senegalese percussionist Youssou N'Dour – African and world-famous artist – also attended the ceremony and presented the winners with their certificates. African music and an art exhibition of the winning entries, together with a full schedule of cultural activities specially conceived for the students, made the event a successful and fun experience.

With their visit to Stockholm, the group had the unrepeatable chance to take part in the European Development Days (Stockholm, Sweden, 21-23 October), a unique gathering for over 6000 participants – NGOs, heads of state and civil society – all engaged in fighting world poverty. After this trip, the first national winners are expected to meet again for a five-day study trip to Ghana, discovering cooperation projects in the field and meeting young local students.

National winners: