The “Incredible Impacts” grants celebrate the “beyond tourism” legacy value of international association meetings and their projects that are delivering positive social impact. A panel of independent judges from the association world determines which meetings have left a proven legacy, and award three grants of $7,500 on behalf of Iceberg partners BestCities Global Alliance and ICCA (the International Congress and Convention Association).
The three winners from 2019, the third year of the grants’ awarding, were:
- The European Lung Foundation in conjunction with the European Respiratory Society
- The International AIDS Society
- The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
Three videos about the winning legacy projects have now been produced.
The European Lung Foundation in conjunction with the European Respiratory Society.
The European Lung Foundation, in conjunction with the European Respiratory Society, hosts events under the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign. This is launched each year at the ERS International Congress, which brings professionals from around the world working in the field together with patients and the media, to meet under one roof, to hear first-hand from experts and to exchange knowledge.
Uniquely, the ELF and ERS hold lung testing events in each of their congress host cities. These are open to the public, meaning that not only those in the healthcare world, but patients and non-delegates also benefit from the conference’s presence. Leaving a legacy that actually saves lives, ELF and ERS aim to make an impact on decision making, community well-being and social progress through their meetings. Delegates are also encouraged to hold their own Healthy Lungs for Life events across the globe.
The European Lung Foundation in conjunction with European Respiratory Society.
The International AIDS Society.
The International AIDS Society leads collective action on every front of the global HIV response. It is also steward of the International AIDS Conference, the world’s largest meeting on HIV and AIDS. The event sits uniquely at the intersection of science, advocacy and human rights. It brings together scientists, healthcare professionals, people living with HIV, policy makers, funders, the media and the wider community.
The conference also hosts a scholarship programme supporting individuals with limited resources. This increases attendance of those best positioned to transfer the knowledge they acquire at the conference into social impact they make in their own communities, continuing the legacy.
The International AIDS Society.
The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, is a not-for-profit organisation hosting international congresses in three different regions of the world every year. During its recent Caribbean event, ISPCAN focused on bridging the gap between academic research and the work of practitioners serving vulnerable children targeted by sex tourism. It did so by adding the voice of child abuse survivors and local youth. The Caribbean meeting was important because Jamaica has recently developed a national action plan to address violence against children. ISPCAN congresses spark changes in policy and systems of care, and improve treatment and prevention programmes.
ISPCAN congresses also engage youth with a forum of their own design, from which they use social media channels and media attention to tell their stories. Involving youth helps to drive social and governmental change, and is critical for the lasting legacy of the event and the bettering of the region.
The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
