Smile of the Child awarded with the European Citizen’s Prize 2014

Keep in mind that the Smile of the Child is hosting Christmas Bazaars all over Greece and is once again giving Greek citizens the opportunity to shop for a good cause! All ornaments, gifts and Christmas products are made by volunteers and employees at the Voluntary Creative Workshops of the Smile of the Child.

Meanwhile it was announced that the Smile of the Child was awarded with the European Citizen’s Prize 2014 in honour of its work towards promoting children’s rights.

This year’s winners received their medals during the national award ceremony that was held by the Information Office of the European Parliament in cooperation with the Representation of the European Commission in Greece on Friday 12 December, 2014. The Smile of the Child, NGO Diogenis and the Centre for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind were this year’s winners from Greece.

The European Citizen's Prize was launched by the Parliament in 2008 to recognise exceptional achievements by citizens, groups, associations or organisations. The Citizens' Prize is given for activities that either facilitate cross-border cooperation within the EU or promote better mutual understanding and closer integration between citizens and member states. It can also be awarded for day-to-day activities reflecting the values enshrined in the EU's charter of fundamental rights.

This year 47 people and organisations from 19 member states were selected for the prize in honour of their good work. They will receive their medals in national award ceremonies and they will have the chance to showcase their work and meet MEPs at the European Parliament in Brussels on 25-26 February 2014.

     “Today’s award belongs to our friends, staff, supporters and volunteers. Above all, this recognition belongs to our children and people who fight in the frontline promoting Greece as a country fighting with decency”, Costas Yannopoulos, Chairperson of “The Smile of the Child” underlined.

Costas Yannopoulos presented the wide spectrum of nationwide actions of “The Smile of the Child” where 729 children have been raised in its 19 years of work. During the same period 3.843 children with serious health problems were supported, while the National Helpline for Children SOS 1056 received 2.471.824 calls. The Chairperson of the Greek organization thanked the Greek MEPs Miltiadis Kyrkos and Dimitris Papadimoulis for their decision to nominate and support “The Smile of the Child” for the European Citizen’s Prize 2014.

Greek MEP Miltiadis Kyrkos (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Greece) referred to the significance of recognizing the important work of civil society organisations. “Very often the work of these organisations is forgotten by the society. I would like to say a personal thank you to all of those that support our co-citizens in need”, Miltiadis Kyrkos underlined.

Greek MEP Elissavet Vozemberg (Group of the European People's Party) underlined the fact that this year’s European Citizen’s Prize comes as recognition to their work and promotes Greece abroad, while representatives from the Information Office of the European Parliament and the Representation of the European Commission in Greece extended their warm thanks to this year’s winners of the European Citizen’s Prize.