Òscar Camps

Òscar Camps Gausachs (Barcelona, 28 November 1963), is a Catalan lifeguard, entrepreneur and activist, known mainly for being the founder and director of the NGO Proactiva Open Arms. He was awarded the Catalan Prize of the Year in 2015.[1]

Òscar Camps Gausachs
Òscar Camps in 1917.
Born (1963-11-28) 28 November 1963
Barcelona
Occupationlifeguard

Born in Barcelona, Camps was the owner of a lifeguard company based in Badalona, Pro-Activa Serveis Aquatics, which was dedicated to maritime services, specifically water security and lifeguarding. In the context of the European migrant crisis, during the Syrian civil war, when thousands were losing their lives trying to reach Europe, Camps decided to move to Lesbos, a Greek island near Turkey, to evaluate the situation on the ground. The key event that prompted him to move was the posting of images of the body of Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old boy who had died while trying to cross the border with his family.[2] He and a few colleagues decided to apply their lifesaving expertise to help rescue refugees trying to reach the European Union via the Aegean Sea.[3][4]

In September 2015 a group of volunteers decided to found the NGO Proactiva Open Arms, funded with 15,000 euros,[5] and went to the island by work on rescue tasks. At first, the only material they had were various wetsuits, fins and breathing tubes. The group's main activities were to guide and help reach the beaches to refugees, mainly Syrians, who came from Turkey in very precarious boats.[6] Over time, however, the available equipment improved, mainly through donations from individuals.[7]

Spanish and European media echoed the activity of Camps and the NGO in Lesbos, mainly due to their visibility in photos uploaded to the internet. For example TV3 broadcast of the To Kyma documentary where the group's activity was monitored in various actions on the Greek island.[8] On March 2, 2016, Camps and Proactiva were able to visit the European Parliament, where they spoke on behalf of refugees.[5]

Awards

Camps received the 2015 Catalan of the Year Award.[9][10] He also received the Medal of Honor of the Parliament of Catalonia in recognition of his humanitarian work through Proactiva Open Arms next to Carola Rackete.[11]

References
  1. Òscar Camps, nou Català de l'Any El Periódico, 7 April 2016
  2. Òscar Camps: socorrismo sin fronteras, El Periódico, 8 April 2016
  3. "Vídeo: Un grupo de socorristas españoles rescata a tres refugiados junto a Lesbos". El País (in Spanish). 2015-10-01. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  4. "Un equipo de socorristas españoles salvan vidas de refugiados a diario en las costas de la isla de Lesbos". Europa Press. 2015-10-02. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  5. BARCELONA, BEATRIZ PÉREZ / (2016-03-06). "El socorrista de Badalona que salva vidas en el Egeo". elperiodico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  6. PRESSDIGITAL. "La labor humanitaria de Pro-Activa, el mejor ejemplo de solidaridad ante la crisis migratoria". Pressdigital (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  7. "Socorristas catalanes rescatan a 242 personas naufragadas en Lesbos". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 2015-10-29. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  8. BARCELONA, MANUEL DE LUNA / (2016-01-25). "Los ángeles de Lesbos". elperiodico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  9. BARCELONA, EL PERIÓDICO / (2016-02-29). "El Català de l'Any 2015 presenta la llista dels seus candidats". elperiodico (in Catalan). Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  10. Daniel, Carlos Márquez (2016-04-07). "En el nombre de Aylan". elperiodico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  11. 324cat (2019-09-10). "Òscar Camps i Carola Rackete reben la Medalla d'Honor del Parlament". CCMA (in Catalan). Retrieved 2020-04-07.
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