BRUSSELS, MAY 31, 2008: The project “One Drop in the Sea 
performs Miracles” of the International Voluntary Service for Development (VIS) has received the European Union’s “Energy Globe Award” in the category of national prize-winners. The project involving the setting up of a water distribution system in the Gambela region of Ethiopia was chosen from among 853 projects presented by 109 countries. The Award was presented on May 29, during a solemn ceremony held in the European Parliament, to Massimo Zortea, President of the VIS, in the presence of Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Union Commission, Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of the Soviet Union. The “Energy Globe Award” is considered one of the most important in the environmental field; the projects examined coming from all parts of the world are chosen on the basis of their capacity to promote the safeguarding of resources and the re-use of renewal energy. Thanks to a contribution from the Butterfly Foundation, VIS carried out a project to provide water to five villages in the Gambela region, giving over 13,000 people access to drinking water. In each village a committee was set up to manage the use of the well, creating an effective self-management system and a wise use of the water resources. The digging of the wells also brought fresh life to local agriculture, improved health and hygiene and above all brought about a reduction in infant mortality and an improvement to the life of the women and children.
ANS News