The International Federation has identified youth as key agents of change in society, with a capacity to adapt and respond to the needs of those who need the Red Cross and Red Crescent the most. Since 2005, the IFRC has awarded National Society youth sections which are implementing programmes that respond to these needs.
The award aims to highlight innovative ideas for projects to address humanitarian challenges throughout our communities and to promote youth to do more, do better and reach further. As agents of change, youth can effectively meet these challenges with new insight, working with and for vulnerable groups in their local communities.
“Youth on the move” Award 2011
In line with the International Federation Youth Policy (1991), the Solferino Youth Declaration (2009) and the Strategy 2020, the Youth Award 2011 was presented in four categories:
• Live our principles, celebrate our diversity, change our community
• Healthy youth make a healthy world
• Adapting to climate change and addressing catastrophes
• Bridging the Digital Divide – Connecting People through Technology.
Youth were truly on the move; by the deadline there were 44 project proposals received from altogether 27 National Societies. Among these, one winner and one runner-up were identified in each of the four categories. It was a difficult decision for the evaluation team as the proposals were all very interesting.
The Youth Award 2011 winners and runners-up by category are:
Live our principles, celebrate our diversity, change our community
Winner:
Bulgaria with the project TOGETHER FOR A BETTER LIFE
Runner-up:
Indonesia with the project Character youth building based on the fundamental principles
Healthy youth make a healthy world
Winner:
Ireland with the project Youth HIV/AIDS awareness training
Runner-up:
Georgia with the project Create healthy world together
Adapting to climate change and addressing catastrophes
Winner:
Philippines with the project Run, plant and care for the Mangroves and our environment
Runner-up:
Kenya with the project Vijana Kuajibika project
Bridging the Digital Divide – Connecting People through Technology
Winner:
Costa Rica with the project Radio CRJ "la aventura de ser joven" (“The adventure of being young”)
Runner-up:
Armenia with the project SMS helpline
Congratulation to all the winners and runners-up! Special thanks go to all youth who participated. We hope that you will further your passion and commitment for humanity.
Short project descriptions of the winner and runner-up projects can be found here.
What is the prize for those awarded?
Two projects (winner and runner-up), will be selected in each category. The award is given to the proposed National Society youth projects, not to a department or a person. The prize includes:
• Travel and accommodation for one youth representative to participate in the International Federation General Assembly as well as the youth meeting prior to the assembly to receive the award.
• A laptop computer for the youth section of the National Society to be used specifically on the awarded project.
• Start-up money for the project implementation:
o Winners: CHF 5,000
o Runners-up: CHF 3,000
• Technical support provided by the IFRC technical coordinators and departments during the project implementation phase.
The winners of the 2009 award
Youth Empowerment Project
Sierra Leone Red Cross Society
Youth Mental Health and Character Building
Indonesian Red Cross Society
El-Niño as a Foundation for Building Community Resilience, Drought Recovery and Growth
Kenya Red Cross Society (Kwale Branch)
Runners up:
Afromanding Musical Band
The Gambia Red Cross Society
Youth and HIV in Ivory Coast
Red Cross Society of Côte d’Ivoire
Youth on the Move to Reach Further in Environment Conservation
Kenya Red Cross Society (Nakuru Branch)