ERSTE Foundation Award for Social Integration
The ERSTE Foundation Award for Social Integration promotes and recognises organisations in the public and non-profit sectors that engage people’s abilities, capacities, and initiatives for socially-oriented practice and progressive change in society. The Award is integral to the ERSTE Foundation Social Development programme, which emphasises a commitment to human and cultural diversity, holistic human development, social and economic justice, and individual and group self-determination.
Social development in civil societies in Central and South Eastern European countries
The ERSTE Foundation Award for Social Integration adds value to social practice by highlighting innovative projects in CSEE countries. The Award gives due recognition to the role of individuals and groups in that region in creating societies with equal opportunities for everyone. Social integration is applied here to mean policies and programmes which foster stable, safe and just societies and therefore are inclusive of disadvantaged, vulnerable groups and people with special needs.
The Award is given to innovative and creative social integration projects that have made a valuable impact and difference in the lives of intended beneficiaries. The financial component of the Award is intended to further the awardees in their social practice.
In addition to the financial grant, the Award provides wide exposure so that winning projects get more visibility. It creates opportunities for the winners to have better access to networks of possible partners and supporters, as well as to the databases of ERSTE Foundation.
Projects have to demonstrate outcomes, results, and sustainability. The Award is open to the public sector, civil society, private initiatives, and religious communities as well as to the media.
