The Spanish National Organization of the Blind (ONCE) has won the European Citizens' Prize 2016, awarded by the European Parliament. The parliament has been granting this prize annually since 2008 to “citizens, groups, associations or organisations having displayed an outstanding commitment to promoting better mutual understanding and closer integration between citizens of the Member States; or those who facilitate cross-border or transnational cooperation within the European Union, as well as those who try to promote the values in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.”
ONCE's nomination was put forward by European People's Party MPE Rosa Estarás. According to a statement by the European Parliament, ONCE has contributed to the social integration of its more than 72,000 members for over 77 years, who access its personal independence, access to education, employment, social integration, leisure and culture services every year.
“ONCE is also present in more than 50 countries. Through the ONCE Foundation for Latin America it works in every country in the region, and thanks to its efforts more than 100,000 children with severe visual impairment have been able to attend school in the last 4 years. Furthermore, it has trained 50,000 blind adults for employment. In Africa, ONCE is taking significant steps to secure schooling for blind students, including through donations of braille and audio material,” adds the European Parliament's press release.
The 50 winners will receive the prize at a ceremony held in the Brussels headquarters on the 12th and 13th of October.