In the company of human invention, be it of imagination or science, on Tuesday, we gathered to celebrate the European Social Fund, an initiative to offer educational support for the less fortunate. In the Natural History Museum’s Earth Gallery, under the watchful eyes of sculptured deities like Zeus and Atlas, we listened to how much difference working together to provide people with an opportunity makes. The astronaut, the Cyclops and the stars along with the unfortunate titans helped to remind everyone in the room how far we had come from the times when outcasts bore their burdens for an eternity.
Now we live in a world where the exuberance towards self-gratification is hard to deny, so gracefully we move to throw the crumbs to those who know no better. But putting aside my initial cynicism, the European Social Fund (ESF) has merits that I cannot fail to highlight.
I try to believe in the power and goodness of the institution of the European Union, as a European who feels more attached to this continent than most. The ESF has funds that it
distributes to institutions if they are further or higher education accredited or engaged in giving other qualifications to individuals. The European Social Fund supports projects that aim to bring less privileged individuals into gaining qualifications and advancing in their chosen area of study.
Kids who otherwise would be doomed to teenage parenthood now have a chance to pursue a dream and make it a reality, and as the cliché was almost unmissable, the reaching of stars was mentioned. Disabled people, less educated people and underprivileged people are all embraced and shown a doorway into another life. This concept is very gallant and admirable and I suppose just like me, many project co-ordinators in the room were proud of not only the concept, but also the fruits of their efforts, the achievements. Ultimately, it is the teachers, mentors and carers who need applauding. They are the ones who give music lessons to kids, teach disabled people to use computers or train ex-military men to become security guards. And this is all undeniably important, yet one thing kept on circling in my head as I walked around looking at the displays of certain projects: no matter how much the people were smiling on them, this whole thing only works if people who the projects are aimed at are interested. Forcing goodwill unto anyone will have a sour effect.
With this experience, the nice food and wine and a look at the Earth Galleries, I concluded that efforts like the European Social Fund should definitely be supported and cynicism towards it should be kept to a healthy minimum.
Zsofia Kadar
