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Project Presentation
The Africa Italy Excellence Awards (AIEA) is an important annual award scheme organized by Divino Friends Organization and held in Italy.

Africa Italy Excellence Awards (AIEA) was founded in 2008 and but the maiden edition was organized in 2011 in Brescia Italy. The award celebrates diversity and multiculturalism and the achievements of the contemporary and historical African-Diaspora community in Italy and Europe. The award pays tribute to Africa's success across all walks of life – emphasizing achievement and highlighting inspirational role models in the fields of: Business, Sports, Entertainment, Humanitarian and Arts and Culture. It was set up to tackle a broad spectrum of issues affecting the modern African. It operates through the Africa Italy Excellence Foundation.

The Africa Italy Excellence Awards (AIEA) is an initiative of a kind officially endorsed by the European Parliament signed by President Martin Schulz, Roma Capitale, Brescia Municipality and UNAR - National Office Against Racial Discrimination of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. It has also been endorsed by His Excellency Mamadou Kamara Dèkamo - Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in Italy. As a non-profit making organization, organizers of the award scheme donate proceeds towards charitable schemes – operating within the Africa community, and also provide a platform for promoting greater cultural diversity in Europe. The visionary brain behind this pukka initiative is young Afro-Italian entrepreneur, Ms. Freda Cooper. Ms. Cooper, during the maiden edition of the award, said in her emotion laden speech, “For decades, Africa has been saddled with the negative image of socio-economic development and right leadership. “Too often through the lenses of the Western media, much bad news has been mirrored about Africa and Africans in Europe, especially in Italy. Africa is much more than what we see on our screens. It is a land full of resources and business opportunities. “It is in this vein that I and my team decided to tell the real story of Africa and Africans in Diaspora. As Africans living in the Diaspora, each of us has a major role to play and to help dispel myths and stereotypes about our continent. “The saying goes that ‘until the lion learns to write, the story of hunting will always be told by the hunter.’ It is, therefore, our responsibility to be ambassadors of this great cause – having in mind that we are the secret weapon of our continent.” She also made the point that, as Africans in Europe, the time has come to accept and identify themselves as talented, independent and industrious citizens of the world because it has taken time to acknowledge their own. She further added that, it’s high time to appreciate the hard work of some citizens and their enormous contributions towards the development of the host country (Italy) and their countries of origin.

Organization
The award is organized by Divino Friends Organization – specialized in achieving social events, which promotes dialogue between Italian citizens and Africans living in Italy and Europe, encouraging intercultural understanding through public exhibition, conferences, trade shows and seminars aimed at enhancing the socio-political cultural heritage of communities rooted on the territory. It also provides information and mediation services between the various local authorities and private entities. In addition, the organization acts as a negotiant between the citizens and businesses who want to carry out international cooperation activities in Africa. Cooperation in this wise means, to further development in terms of human promotion and additional value both technological and cultural process that implies involvement of local communities via forms of collaboration with immigrants and several associations.

How The Award Scheme Operates
Each year, the organizers receive thousands of recommendations for nominees through their official mails based on internal vetting process with criteria that each nominee must meet – prior to being accepted as a nominee.

They consider the activities of prospective nominees in the 12 months – leading up to the awards. After the first evaluation and the ballot from the Board, the profile of qualified nominees are sent online and to the Legal Affairs Committee composed of renowned experts in the fields of: Immigration, Economics, Information and Social. Public vote is 55% and the remaining 45% is by the Legal Committee with the exception of the Recognition, Merit and Honour categories respectively.

AIEA Foundation
The Foundation was established symmetric to the Divino Friends Organization. The work of the Foundation is well-knit with the States which aids in promoting Ghana/Africa. We offer various initiatives and provide solutions to the most constraint social demands.

AIEA winners
Here are some of the names of the winners of this great initiative H.E. Christopher Norman Russell Prentice, Prof. Mariano Pavanello, Hon. Giusi Nicolini, Dr Perviss Kwame Kuwornu,H.E. Eric Tonye Aworabhi, Edirissa Sanneh, Taiye Selasi, H.E. Hassan Abouyoub, Madi Sakande, Ray Foundation, H.E. Carla Elisa Mucav, Kofi Osei Bonsu, Bretuoba Quaku Agyemang, Fabio Mandela, Thomas Andreaw, New Tecnowind Menssana Basket, Malu Mpasinkatu, H.E. Evelyn Anita Strokes-Hayford, Dr. Kossi A. Komla-Ebri, Hon. Cècile Kashetu Kyenge, H.E. Mamadou Kamara Dekamo, Ottobre Africano, Abdou Kader Alassane, Desiree Diao, E.A.Phography, Obed Duku ,Daniel Adomako, H.E. Nomatemba Tambo, Nana Yaw Badu Duku, Aubrey Adofo Assiedu, H.E. Mulgeta Alemseged Gessese, Harriet K. Mugera, Zuzanne M. Diku, Jean Baptiseste Sourow, Martha Ahlijah Frimpong, Top Class, Samuel Kennedy Agyei Takyi, Reggie Tagoe, Stephen Ogongo, Roland Agambre, Jean Leonard Touadi, Alima Moro, Victor Emeka Okeadu, Gloria Hooper, Fred Kojo Kuwornu, Jean Cloude Mbede

Reference
http://www.africa-news.eu/africans-abroad/africans-in-italy/6335-africa-italy-excellence-awards-2014-accepting-public-nominations.html http://www.comune.roma.it/wps/portal/pcr?contentId=NEW531026&jp_pagecode=newsview.wp&ahew=contentId%3Ajp_pagecode http://www.comune.roma.it/wps/portal/pcr?contentId=NEW531592&jp_pagecode=newsview.wp&ahew=contentId:jp_pagecode http://www.all-tv.tv/africa-italy-excellence-awards-sara-il-30-novembre-a-brescia-la-terza-edizione-della-premiazione-celebrera-la-buona-integrazione-freda-cooperpremiamo-gli-africani-che-fanno-crescere-litalia/ http://showbiz.peacefmonline.com/pages/news/201311/179396.php http://newsghana.com.gh/launch-date-for-africa-italy-excellence-awards-2013-announced/ http://www.theafricaninternationalherald.com/index.php/fotogallery/item/801-africa-italy-excellence-awards-held-with-great-style-and-success-amidst-protest-by-forza-nuova http://www.theresesalemi.com/africa-italy-excellence-awards-2013/ http://diamondcelebrities.com/tag/africa-italy-excellence-awards/