Siu-Tsiu, a non-profit social enterprise based in Greenland, has won the Laurence Trân Arctic Futures Award.
This provides €7,500 of financial assistance to a fledgling start-up or young entrepreneurs based in the Arctic. This year’s winner was chosen by an international jury of experts on startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship from various parts of the Arctic.
The 2024 winner employs and upskills marginalised young people to help them find work, pursue further education and, say the judges, “gives them a sense of community and a sense of purpose in life.”
Siu-Tsiu was chosen as the winner among eight candidate start-ups from across the Arctic that submitted applications.
We’re proud that this award will make a difference to a very deserving organisation that is doing so much to help young people in the Arctic upskill and improve their employment prospects,
said Alain Hubert, President and Founder of the International Polar Foundation while on a mission to Antarctica leading the 2024-25 Belgian Antarctic Research Expedition.
The work they do is important for the cohesion and well-being of Arctic communities.
The award ceremony at the Arctic Futures Symposium in Brussels was attended by IPF Managing Director Nicolas Van Hoecke, IPF Board Member Piet Steel, Mr. and Mrs. Trân, and Patti Bruns, the Secretary-General of the Arctic Mayors Forum, which participated in the international jury of experts that chose the winner.
Pilo Samuelsen, Chief Operating Officer for Siu-Tsiu in Nuuk, Greenland, travelled to Brussels to accept the award on behalf of the social enterprise.
He delivered “very heartfelt” thanks at the award ceremony, adding, “We feel incredibly grateful and honoured to receive this award. It is difficult to describe the impact and meaning for everyone involved in our business.
First of all, this award highlights the importance of developing communities. With this award we feel that attention on socioeconomic enterprises in the Arctic and particularly in Greenland has been raised on a larger scale.
Second, this award presents us with the opportunity to showcase how a relatively simple model can bring about change for young people that need it the most. With this award we feel a bigger and deeper recognition and validation of our efforts.
Third, this award will boost our motivation to continue our project. We feel ambition growing in us and we feel more determined to come closer to our vision of a society that gives everyone the possibility to contribute and participate in developing our small communities. Socioeconomic business has proven to be a meaningful and effective approach in marginalized communities in Greenland.
Secretary General of the Arctic Mayors Forum, Patti Bruns, gave the reasons behind the jury’s choice at the ceremony.
Siu-Tsiu exemplifies the transformative power of community-driven innovation in the Arctic. By empowering marginalized youth and fostering a sense of purpose and belonging, they are building a brighter future for Greenland and setting a model for the entire region. The Laurence Tran Arctic Futures Award celebrates their remarkable achievements and the hope they will inspire for generations to come.
Executive Director of the Arctic Economic Council, Mads Qvist Frederiksen, who was not able to be at the ceremony but took part in the jury, expanded on the reasons for the jury’s choice:
<
Comments
One response to “Greenland Project Earns Prestigious Award”
-
Looks like the Arctic is finally catching up with the rest of us—who knew a €7,500 award could turn the tide for marginalized youth? Maybe next year they’ll throw in a few electric heaters to keep that community spirit warm! 😂💡
Last News
“Growing sense” that Europe cannot rely on the U.S. for security – survey
Public support for expanding the EU eastwards is “slipping,” says a major new survey.
It found that majorities in most countries continue to view war torn Kyiv either as an “ally” or a “necessary partner”.
However, there is “markedly less enthusiasm and consensus” on subjects of long-term support such as sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after the war and expanding the EU eastwards.
One of
Germany and Curaçao Open a World Cup Story About Scale
The four-time champions start off in Houston against the smallest nation ever to qualify for the tournament
Germany’s World Cup kickoff against Curaçao in Houston goes beyond a clash between a European powerhouse and a newcomer. It serves as an early gauge of the expanded tournament’s potential: pressure for established teams, exposure for smaller football nations, and a reminder of
Bardella warns Brussels he won’t moderate
CPMR Applauds EU’s Ambitious New Islands Strategy
The initiative, unveiled on Wednesday, marks the first attempt to give Europe’s islands and coastal areas a more coherent policy framework.
The European Commission formally adopted two dedicated strategies, one for EU islands and one for EU coastal communities.
This sets out for the first time a coordinate
Europe Cannot Ignore the Argument of a Post-Gaza World
Donald Trump’s Least Favorite Country Might Win His World Cup
His administration strongly supports immigration on economic and humanitarian grounds and is in the process of legalizing the status o
Belgium Military Wives Choir: A "Lifeline" for Women
One of the less well publicised aspects of a career in the armed forces is the constant moving around it may involve.
That is where a military choir really can come into its own…a lifeline for women who have had to move around a lot from base to base with their partners.
It is, of course, a wonderful outlet for those with a bent for singi
Swiss Voters Poised to Reject Population Limit
Initial projections indicate a defeat for a right-wing proposal that risked free movement ties with the European Union
Swiss voters appeared set on Sunday to dismiss a proposal to limit the country’s population to 10 million, reducing immediate pressure on Switzerland’s relationship with the European Union while leaving domestic concerns over housing, infrastructure, and migration that fue
Switzerland Rejects Population Limit in Referendum
The referendum was initiated by
Growing Fears of Iranian Cyberattacks Prompt Governments to Bolster Digital Defenses
TEHRAN, Iran, June 14 – Eurotoday — Iran cyberattack concerns are gaining renewed attention as governments, cybersecurity experts, and critical infrastructure operators increase monitoring of digital threats amid heightened geopolitical tensions across the Middle East.
Cybersecurity has become a major component of national security planning, with officials around the world recognizing that moder
Leave a Reply