A non-profit project from Belgium is among those shortlisted for the European Economic and Social Committee 15th Civil Society Prize.
The prestigious prize is dedicated to combating the harmful polarisation of European society. The EESC will reveal the final ranking of the winners in Brussels on 20 March, at an award ceremony held Civil Society Week
The finalists were chosen from over 50 applications from across Europe. The creativity and dedication of the projects submitted showcase civil society’s enthusiasm and strong motivation to help European society withstand the onslaught of negatively polarising content.
The prize money of €32,000 will be shared among the three front-runners. The winner of the first prize will receive €14,000 with the two runners-up each receiving €9,000.
The winning project from Belgium is called “ESCAPE GAME EXTREME DROITE pour se désintoxiquer,” a project by FEC Diversite asbl
To raise awareness on the dangers of far right movements, FEC Diversité has devised an Escape Game made up of four districts, in which different ‘families’ take part. The game creates an immersive experience for players, with supervisors wearing protective suits and gas masks, and using voice modification tools.
The game can be set up for small groups (3-4 people) or large groups (160 people). It can take an hour, half a day or a whole day, depending on what those hosting the event need and how much time they have available.
The EESC launched this edition of the prize in September 2024 and dedicated it to combating harmful polarisation, wanting to recognise the crucial role played by civil society in the fight against disinformation, fake news and shrinking media plurality (among other things – a more extensive description of this edition’s theme can be found here).
The prize, awarded this year for the 15th time, honours non-profit projects carried out by individuals, civil society organisations and companies. A different theme is chosen for each edition, covering an important area of the EESC’s work. The prize money and recognition the winners receive will help them scale up their projects and provide further help in their communities.
The 14th edition saw the first prize awarded to the Third Age Foundation’s AgeWell project.
In 2022 the EESC exceptionally granted prizes for two themes: youth and help for Ukraine. In 2021, the prize rewarded climate projects promoting a just transition.
In 2020, the EESC replaced its Civil Society Prize with a one-off Civil Solidarity Prize dedicated to the fight against COVID-19. Other topics in the past have included gender equality and women’s empowerment, European identities and cultural heritage, and migration.
