(18 October 2007) Twelve projects from eight Latin America countries are finalists in the 2006-2007 round of the Experiences in Social Innovation competition, organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The projects come from Argentina (2), Bolivia (1), Brazil (4), Colombia (1), Ecuador (1), El Salvador (1), Mexico (1) and Peru (1). Among them are initiatives to provide telephone assistance to the elderly, improve the quality of life of pre-schoolers living with HIV/AIDS, reduce maternal-infant mortality and generate income.
This year, seven of the finalists work in areas of youth and/or education, including prevention of violence in schools; student housing in a family setting; literacy training; protection of teen domestic workers; alternatives to gang membership, and inclusive access to education.
All the initiatives contribute to progress in meeting Millennium Development Goals and promoting social cohesion, with innovative approaches to improving community health, education, nutrition, environmental protection and income generation, through activities that promote gender equity and attention to youths.
The 2006-2007 competition finalists will be joined by the five prizewinners from last year's contest at the Innovation Fair -- to be held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, from 4 to 7 December - to showcase their achievements and share experiences with the general public. The Awards Ceremony will be held Friday, 7 December.
First-place winner will receive US$ 30,000; second place receives US$20,000; third, US$15,000; and fourth and fifth US$10,000 and US$5,000, respectively. The remaining finalists will receive Honorable Mentions.
During the month of September, international experts and ECLAC staff conducted field visits to 20 projects in 10 countries. Last week, the Selection Committee, meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, named the 12 final contestants.
The Experiences in Social Innovation project identifies, analyzes, acknowledges and promotes the creative replication of innovative social initiatives in a framework of active community participation as a means of strengthening citizenship and democracy. Now completing its third round, the competition has received input from 3,500 innovative projects.
The opening date for application to the next round, corresponding to the 2007-200 cycle, is 7 December 2007.
*************************** Finalists, Round 2006-2007 *****************************
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