Munich/Berlin. Every day, people all around the globe strive to improve integration, inclusion and diversity in their immediate environment. Even where resources are scarce, passion for the topic remains high, with individuals determined to launch their own initiatives and play their part in creating a more just and tolerant society. In the course of the ceremony held for the Intercultural Innovation Hub (IIH) in Berlin, Germany on May 24, 2023, a total of ten such international grassroots projects were honoured for their outstanding commitment.
The IIH is a long-standing partnership between the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the BMW Group, supported by Accenture. It recognizes and strengthens innovative grassroots projects that promote intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding, thereby contributing to peace, cultural diversity and an inclusive international community. The honoured organisation receive access to networks, funding, a comprehensive 12-month training programme to develop their in-house skills and professional mentoring from experienced coaches.
The ceremony in Berlin was led and moderated by Dr. Mandeep Rai, author of "The Value Compass", as well as Miguel Ángel Moratinos, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for UNAOC, and Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director, both patrons of the IIH.
"Today, civil society is evolving in dynamic and impactful ways, with grassroots-level innovations at the forefront of driving meaningful change. The organisations we recognized through the Intercultural Innovation Hub exemplify just that. We are proud to amplify their contribution to diversity, mutual respect, and inclusion. Further, we celebrate our lasting collaboration with BMW Group as we continue to connect, empower, and elevate these grassroots initiatives," said Miguel Ángel Moratinos.
"At the BMW Group, we recognise that intercultural understanding enriches the communities we are acting in. That is why we are so proud of our strong partnership with UNAOC. The Intercultural Innovation Hub enables us to highlight some of the remarkable cross-cultural work being done worldwide. Our commitment to the awardees recipients includes relevant resources we can offer that can promote these initiatives. This can make the crucial difference in turning an idea into practice that evolves local communities and improves people's lives," said Ilka Horstmeier.
The Intercultural Innovation Hub 2023 recipients are:
Fundación Barranquilla+20 (Colombia) - Women for Climate Justice
Fundación Ixcanul (Guatemala) - Itinerant Travelling Cinema
Inspire (Indonesia) - Pledge United
Mais Diferencas (Brazil) - Literature in Multiple Accessible Formats
Oasis 'Reach For Your Dreams' (South Africa) - Community Street Football/Netball
SWANS Initiative (Germany) - More Leylas in Leadership
Tech2Peace (Israel) - A New Reality: Israelis and Palestinians Innovating Together
Programa Adopte un Talento / PAUTA (Mexico) - Empowering Girls and Adolescent Girls from Vulnerable Groups and Communities in Mexico with Science
Wasel for Awareness and Education (Jordan) - Shabbek Wa Bader
Welcoming Australia (Australia) - Welcoming Cities
For more information, please see the IIH's official website: www.interculturalinnovation.org.
If you have any questions, please contact:
BMW Group Corporate Communications
Milena Pighi
Corporate and Governmental Affairs
Spokesperson Corporate Citizenship
Email: milena.pa.pighi@bmw.de
Telephone: +49-89-382-66563
Media website: www.press.bmwgroup.com
Email: presse@bmwgroup.com
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
Alessandro Girola
Programming Coordinator
Email: alessandrog@unops.org
.
BMW AG 
