Madrid, 11 December 2019 – Ten global grassroots initiatives have
been named finalists of the prestigious Intercultural Innovation Award
during an Awards Ceremony held last night in Madrid, Spain. A
partnership between the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
(UNAOC) and the BMW Group, the Intercultural Innovation Award supports
grassroots initiatives that promote intercultural dialogue and
understanding and contribute to peace, cultural diversity, and more
inclusive societies.
The Awards Ceremony was chaired by the High
Representative for UNAOC and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Spain, H.E. Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, and Mr. Bill McAndrews, Vice
President Market Communications at BMW Group, and took place at the
Royal Theatre.
“As the Intercultural Innovation Award enters its sixth edition,
UNAOC and the BMW Group continue to collaborate to magnify the work of
cutting-edge social innovators,” said Mr. Moratinos during his opening
remarks. “In today’s global context, marked by conflicts of a complex
nature, civil society organizations have the power to influence
individual behaviors and foster the values of respect and inclusion,
and therefore play a critical role in advancing these values among
their communities.”
“With the Intercultural Innovation Award we
celebrate outstanding initiatives implemented by extraordinary
individuals. They are working to bridge intercultural divisions in
innovative and impactful ways. We at the BMW Group believe that
diversity not only enhances our company, it is the very foundation on
which our success is built. That is why we are so proud of our strong
partnership with the UNAOC. This collaboration and the Intercultural
Innovation Award enable us to recognize some of the remarkable
cross-cultural work being done worldwide,” said Mr. Bill McAndrews.
This year, the selection process was highly competitive, with over
1,200 applications from 128 countries. The first place went to
“Milenial Islami,” a project of the Indika Foundation in Indonesia.
The project engages leaders of various religions in conversations with
the public, both online and offline, to promote interfaith dialogue
and peaceful coexistence.
In addition to a financial grant, the
recipients of the Intercultural Innovation Award will benefit from
capacity-building and mentorship support from UNAOC and the BMW Group
to help their projects expand and replicate to other contexts. They
will also be invited to join the “Intercultural Leaders” network, a
skill and knowledge-sharing platform for civil society organizations
and young leaders.
Other awardees include (in alphabetical order):
180° Wende – 180° Wende (Germany)
180° Wende connects the youth
community to support their disadvantaged peers and empowers them to
reclaim their own lives by reconquering their social environment. 180°
Wende works in abandoned neighborhoods, prisons, and schools to
provide quick and informal assistance to youth and their relatives.
More info: https://interculturalinnovation.org/180-turn/
Child Soldier Reintegration Project – Grassroots Reconciliation Group
(Uganda)
The “Child Soldier Reintegration” project helps former
child soldiers reconcile with war-affected communities in northern
Uganda. More info: https://interculturalinnovation.org/child-soldier-reintegration-project/
E4D Entrepreneurs for Diversity – Ventana a la Diversidad
(Spain)
The project “E4D Entrepreneurs for Diversity” empowers
young entrepreneurs and creators from marginalized communities in the
Ibero-American region to develop innovative ideas to overcome
barriers, promoting a culture of peace, and transforming their
communities. More info: https://interculturalinnovation.org/e4d-entrepreneurs-for-diversity/
Inclusive Intercultural Education for Social Cohesion – Kachinland
College (Myanmar)
The “Inclusive Intercultural Education for
Social Cohesion” project empowers and equips young leaders from
different ethnic, linguistic, and religious backgrounds in northern
Myanmar to become facilitators in intercultural dialogue, both online
and offline. More info: https://interculturalinnovation.org/inclusive-intercultural-education-for-social-cohesion/
Life Into Lyrics: Bridging Cultural Divides Through Song – Darkspark
(Canada)
The “Life into Lyrics” project invites youth to create
pop songs and digital campaigns with social purpose, encouraging them
to lend their voices to the change they want to see in the world. More
info: https://interculturalinnovation.org/life-into-lyrics-bridging-cultural-divides-through-song/
MinorMatters: Rewind; Rebuild – The Alliance Development Trust (Sri
Lanka)
The project “MinorMatters: Rewind; Rebuild” is a web-based
platform with resources to equip and empower citizens, especially
youth, to promote religious freedom and coexistence in Sri Lanka. More
info: https://interculturalinnovation.org/minormatters-rewind-rebuild/
Schools of Peace – Museo de la Palabra y la Imagen (El
Salvador)
The “Schools of Peace” project offers a variety of
workshops to young people, from music and theater to photography and
audiovisual production, intending to promote youth leadership and
responsible citizenship and foster a culture of peace through arts and
culture. The project also targets teachers by teaching them about
violence prevention at school. More info: https://interculturalinnovation.org/schools-of-peace/
Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom Chapter Expansion – Sisterhood of Salaam
Shalom (USA)
The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom is a Muslim-Jewish
grassroots organization in North America that helps young women and
women develop relationships and gain the skills to react quickly to
incidents in their communities in order to stand together in the face
of hate. More info: https://interculturalinnovation.org/sisterhood-of-salaam-shalom-chapter-expansion/
Women as Peace Champions – Women’s Rights Association (Pakistan)
The “Women as Peace Champions” project engages marginalized
women groups to decrease the gap in the decision-making process and
increase collaboration between different communities. It provides a
platform for dialogue about peace and aims to foster tolerance amongst
communities through the contribution of women. More info: https://interculturalinnovation.org/women-as-peace-champions/
Media Contacts:
BMW Group
Milena Pighi, Spokesperson Corporate Social Responsibility
Phone: + 49 89 382-66563
Email: Milena.PA.Pighi@bmw.de
UNAOC
Alessandro Girola, Programming Coordinator, UNAOC
Phone: +1 929 274-6217
Email: alessandrog@unops.org
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad,
the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of
automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and
mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31
production and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a
global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2018, the BMW Group sold over 2,490,000 passenger vehicles and
more than 165,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2018 was € 9.815 billion on revenues amounting to €
97.480 billion. As of 31 December 2018, the BMW Group had a workforce
of 134,682 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
United Nations Alliance of Civilization
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is an initiative
of the United Nations Secretary-General that aims to improve
understanding and cooperative relations among nations and peoples
across cultures and to reduce polarization at local and global levels.
UNAOC was established in 2005, at the initiative of the Governments
of Spain and Turkey, under the auspices of the United Nations. The
United Nations Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres appointed Mr.
Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé of Spain as his High Representative for
the UN Alliance of Civilizations in January 2019. UNAOC is supported
by the Group of Friends, a community of countries and international
organizations that actively promotes the Alliance’s objectives and
work at the global, regional, and local levels.
Working in
partnership with governments, international and regional
organizations, civil society groups, foundations, and the private
sector, UNAOC is supporting a range of projects and initiatives aimed
at building bridges among a diversity of cultures and communities.