Hungary - University or college students in the European Union are being invited by IOM to take part in a new competition aimed at tackling migration and integration issues in Central Europe. The competition, financed by the European Commission and organized in coordination with six non-governmental organizations (NGOs), involves students submitting articles or documentaries on integration issues in six countries – Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia.

The competition is open to students studying in the European Union between 18-28 years of age. Competition submissions are due by 4th April 2011. Winners in each of the two categories, articles or documentaries, will receive a cash prize of 1,000 Euros with the winners' work being showcased at an international conference on "Promoting Integration through Media and Intercultural Dialogue" in Budapest in May 2011.

Media professionals and NGOs working on migrant integration issues will be attending the conference, which has been organized in coordination with the Hungarian EU presidency and in collaboration with the Hungarian Ministry of Interior. Cash prizes and invitations to the international conference will also be awarded to runners-up and those coming third. The competition is part of a larger Migrants in the Spotlight project, which aims to improve understanding, awareness and reporting on migration issues and integration among the media, journalism students and migrants themselves. In addition to the competition, seminars will take place in each participating country to train media professionals and journalism students on reporting on migration issues. IOM offices in the six countries and NGOs will also host internships for migrants as part of the project.

"This project is an excellent way to sensitize people to the issues that migrants deal with on a daily basis and the competition will challenge university students to examine the successes and challenges of being a migrant in Central Europe," says Dana Graber Ladek, IOM Project Manager in its regional mission in Budapest. Full details on the competition and on the submission process can be found at http://www.mits-eu.org/ from 10 January 2011.

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For further information please contact: Dana Graber Ladek IOM Budapest Tel: +3614722500 E-mail: dgraber@iom.int