Media Engagement in Development Issues and Promotion -MEDIP


MEDIP is a project jointly developed by partners from New Member States of the European Union (Malta, Hungary, Cyprus, Slovenia, Estonia and Romania) and is being funded by the European Commission in the framework of the thematic programme 'Non State Actors and Local Authorities in Development. The overall aim of the project is to enhance the contribution of the participating new Member States towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by sensitising key multipliers in society and the general public on the MDGs on the associated policies and principles of International Development Aid.

The focus is primarily on the new Member States of the European Union where a targeted public awareness campaign will occur through a carefully selected programme of activities and specifically by targeting different sectors and the general public. Specifically, the project aim is to raise awareness, sensitise and encourage positive interest amongst key media players in the participating Member States to further promote the Millennium Development Goals.

The MEDIP project was developed to respond to the fact that media coverage about the Millennium Development Goals is very low within the participating countries and public awareness about development issues and MDG commitments is rather low. This is evidenced in the recent Eurobarometer study, ‘Citizens of the new EU Member States and Development Aid’, published in September 2007, wherein the study reveals that citizens in new EU Member States have a relatively low level of awareness of EU development aid issues with many being unaware of its existence, or how much money is actually involved. Nearly half of the sample of persons interviewed for this study stated that the EU does not help poor countries or that they do not know if it does, and almost nobody was aware of the amount of aid is spent by the EU each year per citizen.

The EU has taken pro active steps to sensitise EU citizens on issues related to Development Aid with EU wide campaigns such as Europe Cares and the annual European Development Days. The MEDIP project seeks to maximise the impact of this approach by tailor making awareness activities that encourage wider understanding and appreciation of the Millennium Development Goals and cultivate sustained commitment to Development Aid. In doing the MEDIP project will contribute to the EU’s aim to reach its targets for 2015 in terms of national contributions to development aid. It will support and complement the European Commission’s efforts and initiatives in encouraging Member States to continue to increase their official aid contributions and to go beyond their Monterrey commitments.

Partners - Lead: SOS Malta (Applicant) – MALTA
Partners: Demnet –HUNGARY, European Institute Cyprus – CYPRUS , Slovene Philanthropy – SLOVENIA , Civil Society Development Foundation – ROMANIA , JTI – ESTONIA

Duration - January 2009 – June 2010

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Final conference in Malta


The Cyprus team participated in the MEDIP Final Conference that took place in Valeta, Malta on the 10th of April 2010. The EIC officer was accompanied by a journalist from the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC), the national television of Cyprus. The conference was considered to be by the Cypriot participants very constructive and useful. Through the panel discussions, the participants (project partners and other quests) had the opportunity to assess the ideas and the methodologies that were used during the implementation of the project and derive new best practices that could be used in the future.
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Europe Day celebration at the presidential palace


The Cyprus team participated in the Europe Day celebrations at the presidential palace with its own information stand. During the event the team handed out the MEDIP promotional materials (USBs, pens, stickers and sanitation boxes), while at the same time information was given to the general public about the MDG’s and the role of European Union. Once again the remarks were made for the MEDIP programme by the EIC Director. Even though this event was open to the general public, the team had a unique opportunity to reach key political personalities of the Cypriot society who were also present at the event.
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Participation to the Europe Day celebrations in Limassol


The Cyprus team participated in the Europe Day celebrations with its own information stand. It is noteworthy that during this event a number of EU member states embassies but also the representation of European Commission in Cyprus, the office of the European Parliament in Cyprus and various State offices and Ministries participated. It is been estimated that more than 30000 people visited the event. During the event the team handed out the MEDIP promotional material (USBs, pens, stickers and sanitation boxes), while at the same time information was given to the general public about the MDG’s and the role of European Union. The whole event took place at the Limassol’s Municipal building where the MEDIP banners were placed a week before.
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Participation to Europe Week celebrations - Artists against Poverty


An art exhibition was held with works by famous Cypriot artists where 50% of the proceeds were given to the children of Zimbabwe. The whole event was under the auspice of the First Lady of the Republic of Cyprus. In the EIC Director’s speech there were substantial remarks about the MEDIP project and its aims.
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MEDIP banners on Limassol's Municipal buildings


After contacting the lead partner of the MEDIP programme and elaborating the difficulties that we were facing regarding the placement of posters on bus shelters, we have agreed that the best method to promote the MEDIP programme to the general public was the creation of large banners and their placement on historical buildings of the Limassol Municipality. The building is situated in one of the main avenues in the centre of Limassol. As we expected the placement of the banners for two weeks on the aforementioned location had huge exposure and reached the wider audience. It should be noted that Limassol has approximately 200.000 citizens and is the second largest city of Cyprus.

For the creation of the banners, the three wining photos from the photo competition were used
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2nd Round Table Workshop


In the frameworks of the MEDIP programme the EIC prepared and implemented the 2nd Round table Workshop in cooperation with OPEK (Association for Social Reform), the UN Representation in Cyprus, the Technological University of Cyprus, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the EU Representation and the office of the European Parliament in Cyprus, the Limassol Municipality, Cyprus Photographic Association- Limassol Branch. The round table was the first event that opened the Celebrations of Europe Week.
The 2nd Round Table took place on the 3rd of May 2010, from 18:00 to 19:30, at the premises of Lanitis Carob Mill, which is located in Limassol city centre. Translation from English to Greek and vice versa was provided to the participants.

The key note-speakers in the panel were:
•Mr. Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
•Ms. Sotiroula Charalambous, Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Republic of Cyprus.
•Ms. Eleni Theocharous, Member of the Committee on Development, European Parliament.
•Mr. Gavriel Amitsis, Professor, University of Nicosia, Cyprus.
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