Ensemble pour la Paix wins "Music against poverty" contest

The first ever Music against poverty contest, organised by the European Commission to mobilize youth in the fight against poverty, has been a real success: 250 songs from more than 20 countries have been submitted. "Let's join together" the winning song by the Rome based group Ensemble pour la Paix won the contest. Apart from recording the track in a professional studio, the song will take them on stage during the European Development Days in Stockholm this October.

During the summer, young people between 15 and 30 from the EU were invited to share their message on fighting poverty and promoting development through the "Music against poverty", a contest organised by the European Commission. With over 250 contributions and a wide variety of styles the participants found their very own ways of approaching the issue of poverty and development. In their winning song "Ensemble pour la Paix" sings about the importance of joining up in the fight against poverty and strife for peace.

The contest was organised in connection with the“I fight poverty” campaign which encourages teenagers to get involved in the fight against poverty. The campaign website also explains EU development policy and projects on issues from food security to conflict prevention.

Ensemble pour la Paix is made up of nine university students in Rome in the age of 23-24, coming from different parts of Italy as well as from Germany and Romania. The group was founded in the beginning of this year with the aim to assemble different musicians from different traditions and with different instruments. Music influences such as pop and rock, folk, classic and traditional Italian music give Ensemble pour la Paix a significant sound. The song Let's join together was written especially for the Music for poverty contest and by singing in several different languages. "Ensemble pour la Paix" wanted to express and transmit a European spirit.

The European Development Days will take place in Stockholm between 22 and 24 October 2009 and aim to make development aid more effective, to build a global coalition against poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The event brings together 4000 members of the development community and about 1500 organisations.