Youth Award Winners 2010

The Youth Award winners for 2010 have been selected out of 630 applicants hailing from 102 UN member states. Three winners and two runner-ups in six categories have been nominated by a jury of young international experts. The Winners were invited to the Winners’ Events in New York City from 18 to 22, September 2010.

Choose a Category to learn more about the winning projects.

Category 1 – Fight Poverty, Hunger & Disease

  • Knight Foundation: The Knight Foundation invests in journalism excellence worldwide.
  • ISOC: The Internet Society provides leadership on issues that confront the future of the Internet.
  • Intel: Intel is driven to create bold advancements in technology that enhances people’s lives.
  • UN GAID: The United Nation Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID).
  • Layla Foundation: Layla Foundation is dedicated to eliminate poverty and raise awareness for the value of education.

Category 2 – Education 4 All

Youth Ki Awaaz: Mouthpiece for the Youth by Anshul Tewari, India:

There where times, when young Indians didn’t have an opportunity to share their thoughts and visions with hundreds of other like-minded people. Fortunately, these times are over. Since 2008, Anshul Tewari’s’ website “YouthKiAwaaz” gives young people a voice. His blog allows the youth across India to express their views on issues such as environment, politics, women’s empowerment or drug abuse. It is a platform for open-minded people, who notice the grievances in the country they live in. Because this website fulfills great awareness training and informs the young crowd about what’s going on in India, Anshul Tewari rightly receives the WSYA.

“Clo´s ship” by Silvia Carbotti, Italy:

Hearts of children will beat faster if they enter “Clo’s Ship” – the winning website of Silvia Carbotti. Colored animations and fondly drafted figures invite kids to learn, play and be creative on this site. The main aim of Carbotti, when deciding to create this project, was to educate young people from six to eleven years. Furthermore, it should guarantee meaningful and rich activities for digital natives. Therefore, it contains many different learning-sections which advance creativity, mental activity and the ability of children. In Cut and Drawing areas, they learn how to handle the cursor carefully. To broaden their knowledge, they can enter the School area. Let’s enter Clo’s Ship at www.navediclo.it

“KSNA (Knowledge & Science News Agency) Scientific magazine” by Mohammad Rashidi, Iran:

Mohammad Rashidi-Kochi has internalized the motto “Let’s Share Our Science.” His “KSNA”-website has been the first online Persian language publication. Furthermore, it’s the founding organization of Open Science in Iran and other Farsi speaking countries. The site serves many different purposes: it offers the latest Iranian and international scientific news and articles in Farsi, introduces Iranian and other academic successful young students or provides news worth knowing about basic and medical science. Altogether, the KSNA Magazine is active in over 20 scientific fields.
More information at www.ksna.ir

The Category “Education 4 All” was sponsored by the Foundation for Mobile Communication (FCM – Fundação para as Comunicações Móveis).

Runners-Up of Category 2 are:

“SME Challenge” by Santiago Peyré, Argentina

“Sexual Maturation and menstrual hygiene management practices associated with school girls in Ghana” by Philip Kwesi Agyei; Ghana

Category 3 – Power 2 Women

“Women´s Forum” by Natalia Corobco, Azerbaijan

The online platform stands up for women’s rights. Azerbaijan is run by an authoritarian regime which tightly controls the media and curtails freedom of expression. As society is pressured to conform, women are increasingly marginalized. The Women’s Forum is an online platform which enables female journalists, bloggers and first-time writers to publish articles on issues ranging from careers and family life to homosexuality and domestic violence – topics which are still taboo in the Caucasus. The site gives young women the opportunity to express themselves and at the same time inspire others to take action on women’s rights and contribute to social change in Azerbaijan.

“We are all Laila” by Eman Abdelrahman, Egypt

“We are all Laila” (Kolena Laila) is an online, independent, and non-profit initiative to empower women in the Arab world by encouraging all society members to discuss women’s issues in an annual event. Participation is open to anybody from Egypt and Arab countries, men and women, bloggers and simple citizens who want to voice and share their experiences and opinions freely on the Internet. The title “Laila” was inspired by the name of the heroine of the novel “The Open Door,” which is written by the Egyptian novelist Latifa El Zayyat. In the novel, Laila represents every girl who suffers oppression and injustice in eastern society. Thus, Laila is chosen as a symbol for every woman trying to unfold her personality in an oppressive society.

“We are not inferior to anybody” by Samina Khushi, Pakistan.

“We are not inferior to anybody” is an initiative by the “Oriental Women Organization” to empower and strengthen young women to take up the fight against female oppression in Pakistan. Up to 40 young women will be trained by experts from a variety of fields, to develop vision and skills for leading the process of progressive change in Pakistani communities. The program is a mix of intense training and educational sessions, study trips and films with the aim to initiate a better society by making women aware that, indeed, they are not inferior to anybody.

Category 4 – Create your Culture

“artur.org.hu – online guide on contemporary architecture” by Daniel Kovacs, Hungary

Architecture is the one kind of art that is hard to send on worldwide exhibition tours. Nevertheless, the Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Centre (KÉK) wanted to make the main milestones of contemporary Hungarian architecture available to the world. So now you have to go to digitally walk around Budapest or Pécs. While doing so, you will find basic facts, pictures, and descriptions of 64 buildings built in the last 20 years. The virtual adventures, however, shall not discourage you from taking real-life tours – you can also find printable supplementary material or use the website on your smartphone, while you are out in the real world.

“WupY – What´s up Youth” by Abdullah Mosaad, Egypt

What’s up Youth (WupY) tries to help youth to push their careers and create global alliances. At this non-profit portal, you can get information about upcoming events or learn from other young people around the world through a database of involved youth groups. It furthermore gives youth organizations the opportunity to get their activities and programs sponsored.

“Afrique in visu” by Jeanne Mercier, France

Photography from Africa – these words make some stereotypes pop up in the mind of most non-Africans. The aim of the Afrique in Visu project was to free photographic practice in Africa from the reductive label of “African authenticity.” The website links photographers from all over Africa – whether they are born on this continent or just decided to live and work there, which leads to a big diversity of photographic styles and approaches. As a visitor to the pages, you can either enjoy the multitude of pictures or find out more, in interviews, by reading the news and event pages.

Category 5 – Go Green

“VERDEate.com, Challenge your Green Side!” by Sebastián Bustamante, Columbia

Do you have a fable for challenges? Do you want to do something for the climate change issue? Then this is the place for you. VERDEate.com is an online community through which people and organizations accept challenges which aim to reduce the CO2 footprint of a person/organization. The community awards and recognizes the users which have reduced the biggest amount of CO2. It is not only a way to get connected with other eco-friendly people and help the environment, but the website also provides general valuable knowledge and education on Climate Change related topics. It has the potential to become the main Spanish speaking online community for the generation of acting against global warming.

“Colour Me Green Campaign” by Liew Yao Ren, Malaysia

Four very green, but also very friendly faces look at you when you enter Liews Yao Ren “Colour Me Green” website. With his project, the 18-years-old environmental activist supports the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which ensure environmental sustainability. On the site, he invites youth from all over Malaysia – school kids as well as college students – to start their environmental campaign. If they have a great idea, they can register on “Colour Me Green” and blog their proceedings. After the projects are finalized, the participants will be awarded the “Green School Award” as a sign of appreciation for their efforts.

“Climate Change Virtual school for Youths” by Verengai Mabika, Zimbabwe

The planets’ future lies in our hands. This is what Verengai Mabika wants to communicate on his site. His Development Reality Institute (DRI) is a youth-oriented research-based organization, which wants to promote sustainable socio-economic development. It is also the first virtual school on climate change in Southern Africa, runs and managed by youths for youths. The main focus is on Environmental Management, Public Health, and Governance. The courses are held online and are aimed to raise awareness on the effects of climate change to development in Zimbabwe.

Category 6 – Pursue Truth

“Social MDGs” by Baxter Stapleton, USA

Stapleton Baxter and his team created an innovative web application which aims to make an impact on society by harnessing the power of social media. Social MDG´s offers students a platform to track in real time what people are saying about the UN and the Millennium Development Goals worldwide. The site allows users to instantly see MDG related content posted on social media sites like Twitter, YouTube, and WordPress. The project gives young people the opportunity to learn more about global issues – and then be able to support organizations actively working to reach the MDGs.

“Forgotten Diaries” by Selene Biffi, Italy

It can be Kosovo for a while, then Somalia and a few weeks later maybe Pakistan again. The attention of media on conflict zones is limited. After a while, they move on. The conflict itself and the suffering of people – especially the young ones – in these conflict zones, however, remain a harsh reality. “Forgotten diaries” feature young bloggers from each of ten conflict zones who share their stories and challenges with the world, raising awareness on issues at the grassroots level. FD also empowers these bloggers through providing online training and then supporting them to develop and implement small community peacebuilding and development projects.

“JOIN Informed Youngsters” by Juan Rafael Rivera-Sanchez, Mexico

JOIN – Jóvenes Informados is an e-magazine dedicated to citizen journalism that enables young people to share ideas about issues affecting Mexico. What started as an idea of four youngsters, is now a well known weekly e-publication with a reach of 10,000 young people and a staff of 40 volunteers throughout the country. The JOIN platform makes it possible for young Mexican people to create a unified voice for social progress and addresses their country’s most pressing problems.

Category: Non-profit Startups

 

Nahrani.com – Improve your vocabulary and provide food to people in need

Poverty and hunger are issues faced by many societies in the world. They are the root of many conflicts in many communities. Bulgaria is no different and does not offer effective protection for poor people. Many shelters and homes for the elderly, orphans and people with disabilities need help because the daily ration of food is too little to establish and maintain a healthy, balanced diet. When people have a balanced diet, they are productive, energetic members of our communities and society. Nahrani.com is a social project developed by the non-profit organization Nahrani Bulgaria.

The Smallholders Farmers Rural Radio

The Smallholders Farmers Rural Radio tackles rural poverty and hunger by designing and broadcasting daily programs in the local Igbo language. The radio enables farmers to acquire contemporary agricultural and environmental management techniques, to receive daily market information, to advertise their farm products and to learn business skills. Smallholders utilize daily broadcast information to decide what, when, how and for whom to produce in the long term boosting their agricultural yields and household income. The radio is interactive and invites feedback from listeners through the…

ANTI HIVIRUS

The interviewer – who somehow resembles a fat cell – tries to wipe out humanity. Therefore, he invites Mr. HIV, another disgusting and icky animated character, for a job interview. Mr. HIV seems to be a good candidate for the job since there are only a few ways to escape his “talents.” In the following videos, you get an informative but also entertaining education on how the HIV and AIDS work. You will meet other viruses and figures like Bob the Cabbie or Lou Lou – who reminds one of a girlie syphilis cell with a touch of bacteria. This project from China rightly won a WSYA in the…

Pamir Times

Pamir Times is a pioneering community news and views portal of Gilgit – Baltistan. It is a voluntary, not-for-profit, non-partisan and independent venture initiated by the youth.

Green Brigade

Green Brigade is a registered non-profit organization led by youth volunteers that strives to involve and awaken the youth towards the process of social change. Started in 2005 as just an inter-school organization working for the cause of Environment, Green Brigade is now one of the most potent names in the field of Youth Activism, Community Work, Nurturing Agents of Change’ and Pioneering Events.

Eco Options Egypt

Donya Desee is a vision infused by a passion for the environment we live in. Driven by the motivation and inspiration of youth, our company was conceived on the 22nd of May 2009. The idea of raising environmental awareness in the Egyptian society is one of the company’s main objectives.

Lemon24.com

Lemon24.com an interactive online and mobile-based entertainment radio station in Bangladesh which is broadcasting its program primarily to all Bangla community around the world.

Nuok

An online magazine for lifestyle, food, art, and culture, updated daily and indispensable for unconventional travelers, residents, dreamers and anyone who wants to know the unknown side of New York and the best city in the world. Founded in 2009, Nuok won several prizes, including the Lovie Award for Travel, has thousands of followers on Facebook and Twitter, and a young editorial staff of around 60 young contributors from 20 different countries.

Village Home Tourism

Alternatives encourage Nepalese youth to become social entrepreneurs and contribute to the society by motivating a generation of youth endeavors which are self-dependent, productive and skilled. Alternatives believe that youth as the change maker will lead the constructive social development for building a prosperous and equitable society.

Donativa

Project Lead: Ilyas Bakouch
Location: Morocco
Weblink: Donativa´s website currently offline
Project Year: Winning Projects 2010
Project Category: Fight Poverty, Hunger & Disease
Ranking: Runner-Up

Urban Journeys

Project Lead: Salman Siddiqui
Location: Pakistan
Weblink: Urban Journeys
Project Year: Winning Projects 2010
Project Category: Pursue Truth!
Ranking: Runner-Up