Brussels, 23/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - The 2008-2009 Youth and Development Prize was awarded on Thursday 22 October to 54 finalists of the poster and video competition organised by the European Commission to heighten young EU citizens' awareness of the development cause and the fight against poverty. The award ceremony took place in Stockholm within the framework of the European Development Days.
Described by European Commissioner Karel De Gucht as ambassadors for development and cooperation between Europe and Africa, the 27 prizewinners - one per EU member state - will make a five-day trip to Africa to have a first hand idea of the way development cooperation works in the field. They will go to where development projects funded by the EDF (European Development Fund) are being implemented and may meet young people of their own age from EU development partners.
The 27 prizewinners took part in a programme to heighten the awareness of youth as part of the European Development Days and their posters were exhibited during the award ceremony. Over 1,200 young Europeans took part in the competition. (A.N./transl.jl)