Spanish projects awarded with the European Citizen’s Prize 2023

The European Parliament recognises the work of the initiatives “Changing Minds” for cultural exchange between young people with fewer opportunities from developed countries and young refugees and “Trésdesis”, the 3D printed arms given free of charge to those who cannot afford them.

This year’s European Citizens’ Prize, awarded annually by the European Parliament, went to the Changing Minds project, which aims to facilitate the inclusion of refugees and improve the view of immigration in richer countries, and to the initiative of the Spanish NGO Ayúdame 3D to provide 3D printed arms in solidarity to people who cannot afford a device to help them in their daily lives.

Changing Minds

This cultural exchange project seeks to bring together young people with fewer opportunities from economically developed countries with young refugees living in Spain and from different countries. For 9 days, the young people live together exchanging knowledge, points of view and bringing cultures closer together, which reduces the differences between them, facilitating the inclusion of refugees and improving the vision of immigration in richer countries.

The jury highlighted the project’s “focus on vulnerable youth and helping young people in their first steps”.

European Citizen’s Prize 2021 goes to Gran Canaria

Trésdesis

Trésdesis are the solidarity prostheses printed in 3D by the Spanish NGO Ayúdame3D that are manufactured and delivered free of charge to people with an amputation or agenesis in their upper limbs anywhere in the world. Its aim is to help reduce the inequality faced by these people and improve their quality of life, regardless of their context, thus helping to safeguard the rights of people with disabilities.

The jury highlighted the project’s “extraordinary work in its quest for equality among citizens”.

Background

The European Citizens’ Prize is an award given “to exceptional individuals or organisations who fight for European values, promote integration between citizens and Member States or facilitate transnational cooperation within the Union, and to those who strive on a daily basis to promote the values of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights”.

Any citizen, association or MEP can submit a nomination for the European Parliament’s European Citizens’ Prize.

In 2023, a total of 38 projects from the 27 Member States have been awarded. The Spanish jury was composed of Spanish MEPs Antonio López-Istúriz (EPP), Lina Gálvez (S&D) and Eva María Poptcheva (Renew Europe), Junior Female Leaders representative Alejandra Fernández and Ana María Díaz, President of the Spanish Health Network for Social Responsibility and Sustainability. The Parliament has been awarding this prize since 2008.

More information: European Parliament in Spain