The Mercator Fund Press Release
1 June 2004
Foundation Sector honours European peace and security initiatives
A new prize for European Philanthropy was awarded today to Avila Kilmurray, Director of The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, paying special tribute to the foundation’s YouthBank project in the Balkans, for its contribution to European peace and security.
The Award underlines the important role that European foundations and the European Philanthropic community have to play in the future of peace and security in Europe through innovative projects.
The Raymond Georis Prize for Innovative Philanthropy in Europe was created in honour of the contribution made to European Philanthropy by Raymond Georis, often considered the “Father” of European philanthropy and aims to recognise annually the innovative work of successive generations, following in his footsteps.
Javier Solana, European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, himself a member of the European foundation community, as President of the Madariaga European Foundation, was chair of the Selection Committee for the Prize.
This year’s winner was chosen for her leading philanthropic work towards peace and social solidarity both in her own country, Ireland, and in the Balkans, with the YouthBank project.
“By giving small, well-targeted grants in risky territory as well as providing policy and development support, the foundation has proven the essential role of philanthropy. The European Union has used the Foundation as an intermediary funder for it’s Peace Building Programme, ”said Raymond Georis.
Ms Kilmurray’s commitment to peace and social justice in Northern Ireland, where the Foundation’s work was first focused, has resulted in collaborative work with other regions.
The foundation offers a model for efforts in other divided communities with its considerable record of achievement in building peace in Northern Ireland and has exported the project to other regions ravaged by conflict. The project is an example of the important role that can be played by foundations in Europe on a pan-European level, at the same time paying tribute to Raymond Georis’ career, which itself exemplifies dedication to peace and security in Europe.
Avila Kilmurray has been Director of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland since 1994. The Foundation’s mission is to enable local activists to take action to improve the conditions of life of the marginalized and the most disadvantaged. The Foundation endeavours to create to the conditions and identify the opportunities for social solidarity and security, which is in Avila Kilmurray’s vision, the basis for peace.
“Through their work, The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, led by Avila Kilmurray, has demonstrated how, with courage and innovation, the worst of the legacy of conflict can be used to inform and shape the best in providing hope and peace and security for the future of Europe”, concluded Mr Georis.
The first Raymond Georis Prize for Innovative Philanthropy in Europe was given today in Athens at the 15th Annual General Assembly of the European Foundation Centre. The Prize will be an annual event that aims to reward outstanding innovative European philanthropy, with high level impact on the community.
Contact: ICOS – Jane Francis Tel: +33 1 49 96 63 70 - Fax: +33 1 49 96 63 73 – email francis@icosgroup.net – mobile: +33 6 60 26 19 82
About The European Mercator Fund
Created by the Network of European Foundations in 2003, the European Mercator Fund’s objective is to deal with matters related to Europe’s role in global social issues. It hopes to act as a catalyst for programmes or initiatives in areas where European foundations could form partnerships with each other and in cooperation with others around the world on pressing global issues.
www.european-mercator-fund.net
About the Network of European Foundations
The Network of European Foundations for Innovative Cooperation (NEF) was established in 1996. NEF is comprised of the following European Foundations; the European Cultural Foundation, Fondation de France, Charities Aid Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Compania di San Paolo, Fundação Oriente, King Baudouin Foundation, Riksbankens Jublilemsfond. Each member Foundation joined NEF in order to strengthen cooperation between Foundations at the European level. NEF aims to act as a launching pad for new initiatives focusing on projects mainly in social and political areas.
www.efc.be/nefu
About the Foundation Community for Northern Ireland’s YouthBank project
The Foundation has initiated five operational “YouthBank”s in Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia. These were based on the experience from Northern Ireland of the operation of YouthBanks, involving catholic and protestant young people working together to identify need, promote philanthropy, and take decisions to assist local youth activity. The YouthBank project revolves around community relations, the exploration of identity, and the development of understanding, trust and respect, as well as issues around conflict resolution.
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland built in exchange visits bringing young people from the Balkans to Northern Ireland and vice versa.
Areas of funding covered by Community Foundation include among others, the Ex-prisoners issues; Youth Development; Social Justice; Women’s Groups; Human Rights; and Victims of Violence.
About the work of Mr Georis
A pan-European approach has always been an important aspect of Mr Georis’ work. By 1977, Raymond Georis was convinced that the way forward for the European Foundation community was to join forces in order to strengthen the impact and capacities of the foundation sector. He conceived and created the European Cooperation Fund, which later developed into the Association for Innovative Cooperation in Europe and paved the way for the creation of the Network of European Foundations for Innovative Cooperation (NEF).
During his time as managing Director of NEF, he has done much to fulfil his initial goals for NEF, of encouraging cooperation and innovation within the European Foundation community, thus allowing and encouraging the member foundations to find common aims and to join forces to attain higher goals.
Also in 1989, Raymond Georis was at the helm of the initiative to create the European Foundation Centre, whose important work was witnessed by all who attended the Annual general Assembly.
Raymond Georis’ commitment to the future of Europe dates back to his experiences during his childhood during the war, when his village was occupied. As part of the post war generation he has dedicated his professional life to the future and the security of Europe. The prize aims to pay tribute to Mr Georis’ career and contribution to European philanthropy by recognising and rewarding those who are presently contributing to philanthropy in Europe in an innovative way.
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