October 2011

For the first time, an Egyptian NGO wins the ALF Euro-Med Award for Dialogue between Cultures for their work on the promotion of citizenship and active participation among youth.

Development No Borders (Tanmeya Bela Hodod) from Egypt has been named the Winner of the Sixth Edition of the Anna Lindh Foundation Regional Prize Euro-Med Award for Dialogue between Cultures 2011. Based in Cairo, Development No Border (DNB) is a youth NGO working for fighting xenophobia, racism, and discrimination  and promotion of citizenship and youth empowerment. The main scope of DNB’s work focuses on social and cultural activities, and volunteerism, through non-formal education projects, exchange schemes and trainings. DNB is one of the ALF members in the Egyptian National Network which brings together more than 100 civil society organisations.

Taking place this year on the theme of ‘Intercultural Dialogue for Freedom and Citizenship, the Award is unique in the fact that it is bestowed and voted upon by members of the Anna Lindh Foundation’s region-wide Network of 4000 civil society organizations working across the 43 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean.  

The second place went to Future Worlds Centre (CYPRUS), a pioneer in the promotion of structured democratic dialogue. The third place went to the Vacation from War Project (GERMANY), which offers every year a great number of young adults from Israel and Palestine a forum for a face-to-face dialogue in a neutral environment in Germany.  The fourth place went to Dr Rouba Al-Fattal Eeckelaert (BELGIUM), the co-founder and Vice President of the Euro-Arab Forum working with professionals from diverse backgrounds dealing with the relations between Europe and the Arab World. Last but not least, the fifth place went to Bokra for Media Production, Media Studies & Human Rights (EGYPT), seeking to advance the work in the areas of information, civil society development and human rights as well as to contribute effectively to the change in the society using media as a tool for political and social change in Egypt.