A total of 12 organizations won the Joy Bangla Youth Award, the country's biggest recognition for young change-makers, this year.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy dis- tributed the awards among the winners at a gala ceremony at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Youth Development in Savar on Saturday afternoon.
Social Inclusion Category:
Bhalo Kajer Hotel
The “Bhalo Kajer Hotel” and its unique work have captured numerous hearts over the years, and it has recently earned the prestigious Joy Bangla Award in the “Social Inclusion” category.
Unlike any other eatery in Dhaka or the world, this extraordinary initiative runs on one condition, which is -- to receive a free meal, one must do one good deed a day.
In instances where this condition is not met, individuals are not turned away empty-handed; instead, they are still provided with a meal, but the expectation is set for them to fulfill two good deeds the following day.
This uncommon establishment is designed for the rootless, helpless, and street children, who struggle to afford daily meals.
Since 2019, Shehanoor Rahman Asif's initiative' has been working to help the landless and floating people in Dhaka. About 2,500 volunteers work for this organization daily to help the people. The organization provides assistance to 1,200-13,00 marginalized individuals daily.
When Bhalo Kajer Hotel gained popularity last year, the Dhaka district administration allotted a 400-square-feet house to the organization.
The place is situated in Dhaka's Wari, and its current market value is Tk5 crore. Before this, Bhalo Kajer Hotel operated on different streets of the capital.
Women's Dreamer Cricket Academy
Women's Dreamer Cricket Academy is working to create an inclusive society. Arifa Jahan Bithi said that this academy is making strides for the well-being of neglected village girls aiming at empowering women, engaging them in the field of sports, and reducing child marriage.
Skills and Employment Category:
Wreetu Health and Wellbeing Foundation (Wreetu)
Wreetu Health and Wellbeing Foundation (Wreetu), under the leadership of Umme Shameen Kabir, is dedicated to offering menstrual health education and making affordable period products accessible to girls and women in Bangladesh.
Beyond addressing menstrual health, the organization plays a vital role in providing counseling services related to women's safety, workplace issues, and employment opportunities.
Wreetu actively engages in raising awareness among adolescents, focusing on personal safety and the responsibilities of child-rearing.
Additionally, the foundation organizes training programs and seminars to further empower and educate individuals on various aspects of women's health and well-being.
Sombhabona
Since its establishment in 2011, Sombhabona has been working on several social issues including sustainable development, women's empowerment, and reduction of gender inequality.
Moshfeka Jannat said that this organization, is working with 200 volunteers. Currently, the organization provides schools for street children, sewing training for women and other training for self-reliance. The organization imparted training to 160 women in sewing.
Innovation and Communication Category:
Clear Concept
Md Hirokh Sheikh's “Clear Concept” has been working for health protection and awareness since 2019 with more than 250 active members from 35 universities and medical colleges in the country. It is a health technology platform.
Team Atlas
Sunny Zubair's “Team Atlas” has been working since 2016 in the field of innovation and communication and one of their major achievements is in robotics and space exploration where they won the gold medal at the World Robotics Championship.
Team Atlas is working with a total of 120 people including 80 active members. Twenty-one institutions in the country have members of their organization.
Social Development Category:
Nupom Foundation
Md Rezaul Karim's “Nupam Foundation” is working to build society. The organization conducts various social activities including organizing blood donation programs, creating social values, street dramas and book fairs.
Altruistic Pupils Youth Organization (APYO)
Malaching Marmar's “Altruistic Pupils Youth Organization (APYO)” is working for the development of the backward communities of Rangamati.
Since its establishment in 2017, this organization has been working to provide health services and create social awareness among the Mro community.
Also, this organization is currently trying to conduct its activities in Chittagong with more than 4,000 youths and more than 170 volunteers.
Climate and Environmental Protection and Consciousness Raising Category:
Wildlife and Snake Rescue Team in Bangladesh (WSRTB)
“Wildlife and Snake Rescue Team in Bangladesh (WSRTBD)” is working to create awareness and protect wildlife in 40 upazilas of the country. Md Shahidul Islam said that the organization provides training and advice on wildlife conservation starting from snake rescue.
Eco-Network Global
“Eco-Network Global” is working to create awareness about climate change. This organization managed by Shamim Ahmed Mridha conducts its activities through networking and counseling. More than 50,000 people have benefited through this organization, which is run by more than 1,500 volunteers.
Art and Culture Category:
Abhinandan Foundation
The image of Rangpur, once known as the manga region of the country, has changed a lot, but the region is still economically backward.
For this reason, Kanchan Chandra Roy established the “Abhinandan Foundation” in 2017 with the help of Rangpur’s people's employment resources and the poor.
At present this organization has more than 100 active members through which about 35 thousand people are receiving services.
Tonger Gaan
To promote the art, literature and cultural practice in the country, Mahmudul Hasan Abir Mia created “Tonger Gaan” to bond people with the country's culture.
It carries out several social awareness activities including child education, women's rights and safety, child marriage, and health awareness.
More than 2,000 visitors regularly attend “Sampreeti Sandhya” organized by this organization.
So far more than 100,000 people have directly explored the taste of the country's culture through this organization.
Joy Bangla Awards
Young Bangla is currently working as the largest youth platform with more than 300 organizations, in addition to the organizations that received the Joy Bangla Youth Awards.
Along with these organizations, more than 50,000 volunteers and more than 300,000 members are associated with Young Bangla.
The biggest youth platform Young Bangla has been giving Joy Bangla Youth Award since 2015.
In the previous six seasons, 145 youth-led organizations have been honoured through this award. Along with that, their success story has been presented to the people of Bangladesh.