Sail Saurel took on the part of an aidworker during an interactive game on Facebook and ended up visiting a real life humanitarian aid program in Georgia. A viral awareness campaign has made a very personal impact in the life of the young European.

European Commission's Department of Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) sponsored a cross-European Facebook campaign implemented by the Danish Refugee Council. The idea was to reach out to young Europeans and raise their awareness through a media they could relate to – the challenge was to coordinate emergency relief during an ongoing crisis in an online game and the prize was a field visit.

“I was surprised and actually proud to learn that through ECHO, Europe is a key funder of humanitarian aid around the globe. I had not expected this kind of insight from a social media like Facebook – the game was cool and at the same time educational,” says 22 year old Sail Saurel winner of a field visit to DRC activities in Georgia. He was accompanied by his friend Nicolas Quintard. 

Since 1992, ECHO has funded humanitarian aid in crisis zones of more than 85 countries via its partners. As one of these partners the Danish Refugee Council implemented the awareness campaign and hosted a field visit to its humanitarian program in Georgia where the organisation works to improve the living conditions and support local integration of internally displaced people from the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.  

“The trip was an eye-opener. At a time of my life when I had just finished my studies and was looking for a sense of direction I was inspired and moved by the humanitarian field as I saw it unfold in Caucasus – it seems more meaningful than a regular commercial job,” says Sail and continues: “the Danish Refugee Council is building temporary shelters, providing livestock and generating income to internally displaced families otherwise struggling to maintain life – the true impact of these humanitarian efforts could be measured through the gratitude these people expressed.”  

The Danish Refugee is working with ECHO in conflict affected regions around the world.

“A Frenchman visiting Caucasus with a Danish organisation – I think it says it all. Humanitarian problems are global, and they can only be solved through solidarity. To me ECHO is a symbol of this solidarity,” says Sail.

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