Young people aged 16-18 from around Europe are invited to participate by submitting a design or piece of artwork which for them best highlights the impact of environmental change on developing countries. Their creative vision can help raise awareness among fellow pupils, teachers, families and others.

African countries face some of the biggest challenges in the developing world. The sub-Saharan area in particular faces huge challenges in the areas of climate change, water and energy and sustainable tourism that are highlighted as themes in this year's Development Youth Prize. Many developing countries worldwide are affected by global warming and fresh and clean water access is a major problem.

The national winners and the runners-up in each country will be invited together with their teachers for a two-day stay in Brussels. This visit will include a prize-giving ceremony where pupils will be awarded their prizes as national winners.

The overall prize will be a trip to Africa arranged for the winners and their teachers. As the EU is one of the key actors in supporting development cooperation with countries across the world, the main aim for winners travelling to Africa will be to see EU development assistance in action. They will visit development cooperation projects working in the education sector, including relevant initiatives from the EU Member States as well as the Commission. In this way, the pupils will be able to transmit messages about climate change to the projects in Africa.

Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid

Mr Jan Figel, Commissioner responsible for education, supports the initiative. (EN, pdf file ~ 320kb)