As many as 50 organizations and platforms under 10 categories have been selected for this year’s Joy Bangla Youth Award.
The selection was made on the first day of the two-day Joy Bangla Youth Award ceremony on Saturday.
Young Bangla, the youth platform of non-profit organization Centre for Research and Information (CRI), which is hosting the event for the third time, handed over certificates to the organizations selected for the award at Sheikh Hasina National Youth Development Institute in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka.
A discussion called “Career Talk” was held in the opening session, where 200 people, including 60 winners of the previous two editions attended. Later in the day, Young Bangla organized a similar event styled “Let’s Talk”, in which the topic --Tarunner Joy Bangla (Joy Bangla of the Youth)-- was discussed.
The second day will begin with a session on women’s rights and safety. The two-hour session dubbed ‘#BeBrave’ will be presided over by Dhaka University gender studies Associate Professor Sheikh Imtiaz.
Later, the name of the top 30 organizations will be announced.
Prime minister’s ICT Adviser and CRI Chairperson Sajeeb Wazed Joy will confer the award upon the top 10 among the 30 winners.
The application window for the award opened on August 21 and continued until September 30.
Throughout the three-month long process of the award, Young Bangla received 2,500 applications submitted by different youth-led organizations from across the country. During the selection process, the organizations’ contributions, social acceptability and scope of work have been taken into account.
The annual event aims to facilitate, showcase and recognize the Bangladeshi young change-makers and promising innovators.
Dhaka Tribune is one of the media partners of the award.
The two previous editions were held in 2017 and 2015.
The shortlisted 50 finalists are: Akota Unnoyon Shongothon, Jhenaidah; All for One Foundation, Dhaka; Anushilon Mojar School, Khulna; BD Assistant, Rangpur; Bayanno, Chattogram; Bridge Foundation, Dhaka; Brihonnola, Dhaka; Call for Blood, Dhaka; Digital Center, Madaripur; Durbar Progoti Shonghothon, Chattogram; The Flag Girl, Dhaka; Ghuri Foundation, Barishal; Gurukul, Kushtia; Jibon, Rangamati; Kkhyapa, Dhaka; Lalmonirhat Taekwon-Do Association, Lalmonirhat; Light to Life, Dhaka; Narail Volunteers, Narail; Nari Shakti Foundation, Panchagarh; Neer Sheba Kendro, Jessore; Notun Jibon, Cox’s Bazar; Onubikkhon, Sylhet; Pakhi Foundation, Dhaka; Poribesh O Haor Unnoyon Shongothon, Sunamganj; Pran O Prokriti, Naogaon; Projukti O Projonmo Foundation, Dhaka; Prothom Surjo Agro Farm, Jessore; Protibondhi Kollayan Shamiti, Mymensingh; Protibondhi Kollayan Sangstha, Khulna; Relation to People, Habiganj; Safal Shrimp Service Center, Satkhira; Salandar High School Women’s Basketball Team, Thakurgaon; Shikkhar Alo Pathshala, Dhaka; Shishu Nat, Sylhet; Shishu Protiva Bikash Kendro, Dhaka; Shopno Jatri Foundation, Chattogram; Shopno Sarothy Public Library, Naogaon; Shopno Tori Foundation, Brahmanbaria; Social Welfare Institute, Mymensingh; Student Organization of Youth Power, Gaibandha; Sylhet Art and Autism Foundation, Sylhet; Tara Initiative, Dhaka; Taru Chaya, Faridpur; Tarunno 71, Kushtia; Tetulia Pathshala, Barishal; Travelettes Of Bangladesh, Dhaka; University Tea Student Association, Moulvibazar; Vorer Alo, Chittagong; Wish for Better Jamalpur, Jamalpur; and Youth Net for Climate Justice, Barisal.