IT Live: Youths transforming communities through social initiatives can apply for the fifth installment of the Joy Bangla Youth Award till October 31. The application deadline has been extended considering the overwhelming response from the young change-makers and the overall circumstances. 

The invitation for applications commenced on September 24, said the not for profit organization Centre for Research and Information (CRI), whose youth secretariat Young Bangla organizes the award.

Applicants have to visit http://jbya.youngbangla.org, the website of Young Bangla, to complete their submissions. The selection procedure for the award will roll on after October 31.

The award is designed to recognize countrywide young changemakers, help them network among themselves and enhance the services they are already providing to their communities.

Since its inception in 2014, Young Bangla has been conferring the award to the youths and youth organizations successfully involved in changing the social paradigm in their respective areas.

"Joy Bangla Youth Award is back for the fifth time to celebrate the young changemakers' dedication to the country. The country's biggest youth platform Young Bangla is once more set to award the youths who have taken the country forward," added CRI sources.

The award will feature two new additions conferring ceremony and lifetime achievement awards. 

Young Bangla will present Lifetime Achievement Awards to individuals who have made significant contributions to the post-independence nation-building process through their leadership, service, initiatives, and research.

There will be 10 awards under two broad categories "Social Inclusion" and "Integrated Community Development". 

Youth organizations working to improve the ability, opportunity, and dignity of marginalized and disadvantaged people through different initiatives can apply under "Social Inclusion", which is split into six sub-categories -- Women Empowerment, Child Rights, Empowering People with Disabilities, Empowering Marginalised People, Youth Development, Empowering Extreme Poor.

While youth organizations making significant contributions to their community through their time, actions, talents, and dedication can apply under "Integrated Community Development", which is divided into another six sub-categories -- Anti-Drug Awareness Campaign, Environment, and Climate Change Activity, Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Response, Health Care and Awareness, Education, Sociocultural Initiatives.

Young Bangla encourages university-based clubs working for the youth community within the university through community service, campaigns, and activities to apply for this award.

Lifetime Achievement Awards will be conferred based on four criteria -- Development Programmes and Projects, Public Policy, Research and Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity.

Dhaka, 25 October (campuslive24.com)//BSC