Foreign just greetings everybody Um we have one introduction video but I guess my colleague is having some difficulties to opening it up so I’ll I’ll start the program in the meantime she can uh work on it so greetings everybody good morning uh good afternoon from wherever you’re joining us today for the journalism
Actress foundations Pioneers in sdgs 2023 award ceremony representative of the jwf to the United Nations Department of Global Communications so for our audience who may be attending a JW event for the very first time journalism writers Foundation is an international Civil Society organization dedicated to promoting the culture of
Peace human rights and sustainable development we are based in New York but as we will soon hear from outstanding Civil Society organizations we have Global Partners across the globe that we collaborate on various grounds for the effective timely and gender sensitive implementation of the sustainable development goals
Last week we concluded the jwf’s eighth annual sdgs conference in the margins of the U.N General Assembly 78th session in which we proudly hosted 21 speakers from 16 different countries including U.N ambassadors diplomats notable journalists academics human rights experts who discussed creating a new momentum for the second half of the global goals
At a time where we’re alarmingly behind the targets of the sdgs added sulfate Civil Society leaders contributing to every single goal are the change makers to promote Innovative inclusive and transformative Solutions in response to this Rising contemporary geopolitical development challenges and at its fifth year I’m beyond
Thrilled to say that we have received 64 project submissions from 36 different countries and today is the day to celebrate their achievements and disseminate their best practices as promoting sdg 17 Global Partnerships is the center of the pioneers and sdgs foundation so before we move on let’s
Get back to our colleague and see if the video will be on come back Pioneers in sdg’s Awards call for projects the Pioneers in sdg’s Awards paid tribute to outstanding individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing sustainable peace and development through Innovative creative and impactful projects the pursuit of peaceful and inclusive societies the
Protection of Human Rights the upholding of the rule of law and the champion of democratic values are integral to achieving Global sustainable development goals these values Drive progress Empower women girls and youth and pave the way for social justice and equal opportunities worldwide we call on civil society organizations to admit their
Projects with us these projects will serve as exemplary models inspiring others towards positive social change and making a meaningful contribution to the un’s sustainable development goals our esteemed International jury consisting of senior practitioners and experts will evaluate these projects using four key criteria Innovation demonstrating Creative Solutions to tackle Global challenges stakeholders
Building Partnerships to leverage financial and human resources scope exhibiting strategic planning meticulous implementation and thorough evaluation impact providing evidence of effective outcomes that can be replicated elsewhere awards first place two thousand US Dollars and recognition award second place one thousand US Dollars and recognition award third place 500 US Dollars and recognition
Board in addition to these Awards we are proud to introduce special recognitions Innovation Excellence award stakeholder engagement award scope Achievement Award transferable impact award young change makers award People’s Choice Award the Pioneers in sdg’s awards ceremony will also be a highlight of our upcoming sdgs conference 2023 we invite you to
Submit your remarkable projects on our website at www.unga-conference.org join us in celebrating The Visionaries and change makers who are leading the way towards a more sustainable and peaceful world together we can make a lasting impact on our Global Journey towards achieving the sustainable development goals in our program today we will hear from
Our jury members and share this wonderful platform with the winners of various categories so um we have a full award ceremony ahead ahead of us so without any further delay I turned to my Med College the president of the journalism writers foundation for his opening remarks good evening good afternoon good morning
To you all ladies and gentlemen the warm welcome to you all to the Pioneers in sdgs awards ceremony 2023 today we’ve gathered here with great enthusiasm and a profound sense of purpose to celebrate the outstanding organizations and individuals who are the true Pioneers in advancing sustainable peace and development as
Well as the preservation of a culture deeply rooted in peace human rights in sustainable development the Pioneers in sdgs Awards stance is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the journalists and writers foundation in collaboration with 52 Global Partners from 27 countries together we have embarked on a
Collective journey to identify and honor those who whose Innovative projects are driving us closer to the U.N sustainable development goals our mission today is to recognize and honor change makers individuals organizations just like you whose actions speak louder than words about altruism philanthropy dedication and unwavering commitment to creating a
Better world for all you are the architect to change the Trailblazers of progress and the Guardians of the Bride tomorrow further I would like to recognize and acknowledge the invaluable contributions over of our distinguished jury members composed of experts and Visionaries who have evaluated these projects based on four important criteria Innovation
Stakeholders scope and impact their rigorous assessment has helped us identifying the winners of our pioneers and sdgs awards 2023 this year we are also proud to inform you that we have introduced the Pioneers Choice Pine People’s Choice sdgs Award this Edition signifies the Paramount importance of public engagement and democratization of sustainable
Development agenda it affords every individual the opportunity to partake in the recognition and celebration of those who alter the course of our world for the better the projects that we honor today are not just commendable they are shining examples that have the poverty Inspire individuals and organizations worldwide
Their story is an accomplishments are beacons of hope that drive positive social change and contribute to U.N sustainable development goals echoing the aspirations of global Community working tirelessly towards a more Equitable and sustainable world is the Embark on this inspirational Journey today let us remember that the
Impact of these Pioneers in sdgs extends far beyond this virtual platform their work touches lives transforms communities and shapes our Collective future I extend my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for joining us in celebrating exceptional projects that reflect human ingenuity compassion and resilience together let’s amplify the message of
Hope and Inspire others to join us on the path towards a better more sustainable world without further delay let’s commence this suspicious ceremony and together let’s honor and celebrate the Pioneers in sdgs who’s in the very embodied spiritual progress and the promise of a better future tomorrow thank you very
Much let’s begin the celebration but before that now it’s my distinct pleasure to introduce our master of ceremony Dr rajender govender who’s a great friend and also a social cohesion expert advisor board member of the Jonathan writers Foundation Dr govender you have the promiser thank you uh Mr mehmetalik and chamre it
Is an absolute delight and an honor once again and a great privilege to be in front of your screen ladies and gentlemen as your program director of the Pioneers in sdg awards ceremony 2023. last year it was a phenomenal experience presenting the awards and what was very very heartwarming is a
Remarkable work that is being done throughout the world in Civil Society trying to achieve the sustainable developing development goals today ladies and Gentlemen We Gather here to celebrate the remarkable achievements and unwavering commitment of individuals and organizations who are driving positive change in our world through the dedication to the United
Nations sustainable development goals I know every one of you cannot be winners however in the eyes of the journalists and writers Foundation looking at the 64 countries that was submitted everyone are winners because they have contributed immensely towards improving the lives of fellow human beings so in
Order to find Winners we have to have a jury and we had a number of people prominent jurists that uh looked at all the awards that were the the submissions and they scrutinized it with a fine comb because at the end of the day there can
Only be a few winners the task of the jury members were very very difficult however I would like to now welcome Dr Reginald nalagula a distinguished leader in Academia whose pioneering contributions have shaped the sustainable development landscape his expertise and dedication make him an invaluable member of our esteemed jury
Panel over to you Dr Reginald nalagula who is going to give us an overview of the enormous and difficult task that it was to assess and evaluate the different uh entries Dr nalugula Dr govender I I believe uh he’s having a difficulty connection difficulty so we can proceed with our program when he’s
With us I’ll let you know thank you not the problem right so ladies and gentlemen as uh we await Dr melon who will be able to give his insights as to the difficult and enormous tasks in order to evaluate the the entries I was
Also a jury member and I must say it was heartwarming it was emotional and very very praiseworthy knowing that we have fellow human beings throughout the world that are doing an extremely remarkable work in order to make this world a better place to live in right so I just
Want to make an appeal to everyone who are watching we are in various social media platforms uh our Twitter account is at jwf Foundation Instagram is J awf Global and our YouTube channel is jwf Global so if you want to catch this very very interesting award ceremony please go to one of our
Social media platforms right so now as we colleagues and all uh recip potential recipients of awards and people that have uh you know taken an extremely difficult time to put together your presentation and so on WE recognize that the path to a sustainable future is not an easy one it requires Innovation
Determination and Relentless pursuit of solutions that will benefit both people and our planet that we are living in the individuals and organizations we honor tonight have not only embraced the challenge but have also emerged as true Pioneers Leading The Way with their actions and inspiring others to join the
Journey throughout the ceremony tonight dear ladies and gentlemen we will shine a very very bright Spotlight on those who have demonstrated outstanding leadership creativity and resilience in the pursuit of the sustainable development goals their stories will serve as a testament to what is possible when we harness the power of collective
Action and purpose-driven initiatives I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the nominees their partners and supporters who have made this event possible your dedication to the sdgs is a source of Hope and inspiration for us all as we embark on this journey together tonight today or
This afternoon let us remember that the sdgs are not just a set of goals they are promised to Future Generations together we can fulfill their promise and leave a legacy of progress prosperity and sustainability thank you for joining us in the celebration of innovation dedication and the unwavering
Spirit of global cooperation let the Pioneers in sdg awards ceremony comments and may it Inspire us or to take bold steps towards a brighter and more sustainable future now there are a number of different award categories which was very very well illustrated by our uh director uh Mr mehmed tilik right
So today I would like to comments now with the first award the announcement of the Innovation Excellence Award right the the procedure tonight we will be announcing all the sub Awards that will lead us to the grand finale where we will announce the third the second and
The first award first place award so now I would like to announce the Innovation excellent award now what is the Innovation excellent award it is a in it is a great and excitement and anticipation that we announced that the Innovation excellent Awards right this year celebrate the extraordinary individuals and organizations whose
Groundbreaking Solutions and creative thinking have propelled us to achieving the sustainable development goals in an Innovative manner let us join in applauding these Visionaries who exemplify the spirit of innovation in the pursuit of a more sustainable future we remain in the United States of America where our hosts are where I am
Delighted to announce that the Innovation excellent award goes to the exceptional project cage-free voices online learning by the outstanding organization cage-free voices hailing from the United States let us now have a glimpse of this particular project right I would now like to welcome the project owners of this particular award
Perishiba smitten the CEO and founder who will give us a very very brief outline about this very Innovative project thank you so much uh we are delighted we are and founder of cage-free voices we are a multi-service international Ed Tech system um and we’ve had the opportunity to influence lives across
Um the United States and some students in Nigeria and a few other countries and so we educate Youth and Young adults who struggle with self-imaging identity and we do that by way of constructing powerful learning experiences and with the neurodiversity approach to learning we believe all students can learn and so
We help students move two to four grade levels in reading and and um two and a half months and so we’re really excited about the opportunity we integrate different uh disciplines as well as we provide a personalized approach to learning so our students remain excited it’s educational entertainment so we get
To all the different intelligence types as well as the neurodivergent community thank you so much what a marvelous project and I’m sure that’s why it’s so Innovative right we move on now with the next category and this time we announced the stakeholders engagement award now in
Order for a project to be successful you need many stakeholders so we’d like to announce and I’ll ask Priyanka to play the stakeholders award jingle yes our journey takes us to the beautiful Philippines where we shine a spotlight on a remarkable project named sustaining hope winning peace this project has earned the prestigious
Stakeholders engagement award for its except exceptional commitment to fostering uh collaboration and dialogue in the pursuit of sustainable peace and prosperity organized by the Visionary analito a Sevilla Jr sustaining hope winning peace as demonstrated how the power of collective action and engagement can bring lasting positive change please let us join in
Congratulating analito as Sevilla Jr and welcome them to present a very brief outline analito please give us give us give us all a very very brief introduction about this award this project we are not hearing you analito thank you uh can you hear me now yes
Loud and clear thank you so much uh we are so elated we are so happy to receive this award the title of our entry is sustaining hope and winning peace this is basically dedicated to the children of indigenous people from different communities in the country so throughout
The years from 2017 until now we’ve been engaging uh these communities and we tried to basically uh excel in three different areas of activities and that is to promote education the second one is to do a preservation of culture of these indigenous people particularly the children encourage them to be the
Vectors and the Guardians of their own identity and culture and the third one is to do or spare him a kind of environmental activity such as tree planting at planting activities what is uh good about these activities is it encourages different stakeholders from the academic students from non-governmental organization from civil
Society and even from the government and individuals who are interested to be together and work uh in in unity to promote this kind of activities and to provide hope to the children in the Indigenous communities throughout the Philippines and we hope that by doing this we are able to provide a platform
For these children to sustain their hope and therefore weigh in Hope and peace in their own immediate Community thank you so much thank you so much Professor enelito that was a remarkable uh overview of the project right we now move on to our next award and this time it’s a scope
Achievement Award now in order for the projects to be very very uh replicable the projects must have an appeal to different parts of the world and and some of the projects uh can be replicated because there’s such great potential of these projects and now we
Go and look at the scope of the project and we would like to ask the Priyanka to play the jingle for this particular scope award yes our journey now takes us to the vibrant continent of Africa especially specifically Uganda where we have the pleasure of recognizing the outstanding
Achievements of the summit green company the groundbreaking project the waste to wealth Enterprise has earned them the prestigious scope Achievement Award let us extend our hotel congratulations to the summit green company and let’s hear from them what this project was all about we would like to ask mullet P Ronald the
CEO of the organization to tell us more about this award and by name a CEO of summit green company climate activist and the ucda from Uganda uh specifically our project is about waste worth initiative through Summit green company we developed a community project that transforms challenges into opportunities this project is about
Recycling of organic us into eco-friendly briquettes in Kampala alone 1.7 tons of waste is generated annually but 76 percent of the waste United is biowaste so this presents to us an unique opportunity of recycling and using organic waste available in the community following our key aspects of creating
Augmented sources of energy that is cost friendly and affordable Environmental Conservation and empowering community Through Hands-On Skilling and job creation we have transformed over 10 institutions from using power to use of eco-friendly duplicates gone and extra mile trained students and teachers to make their own briquettes using compound
Organic School waste and food remains we have also reached out to over 700 Youth and women in more than 11 communities created 500 employment opportunities and gone an example of the nursing are more equipment and and equipments to be used in the production so as to encourage sustainability of the project lastly we
Have created a safer and a cleaner environment by recycling of more than 200 000 tons of biowaste in the past three years in conclusion uh by 2030 we are aiming at transforming over 30 education institutions in Uganda from using firewood to use of eco-friendly duplicates and also creating over 43
000 employment opportunities for Youth and women in waste management and Cricket production thank you thank you so much muteby Ronald and remember that 250 US dollars that all these sub Awards will be receiving will be will contribute in some way in uh expanding the project and thank you for
A remarkable work that you are doing okay right we move on now to the transferable impact award now any any project that is uh directed or aimed at improving Society must have an impact it must impact some members of the community and that’s why we have this particular award which is called a
Transferable impact award and the award goes to Priyanka show us thank you Yes we continue our journey in Africa our next destination where we stop now is the beautiful country of Malawi here we have the privilege of presenting the highly esteemed transferable impact award to grains of Hope mobilization for their outstanding project the community Youth Empowerment and mindset change project
This remarkable initiative has left an indelible mark on communities in in Malawi and Beyond let us join together in celebrating grades of Hope mobilization and the exceptional commitment to making a lasting impact on the lives of young people and I would like to invite George fenius cheza the
Executive director to give us an overview of this project my genre the representative is not with us at this moment but if any other uh colleague is at the program right now from Community Youth Empowerment please let us know in the chat but for the time
Being we can proceed thank you thank you so much thank you so much right our next award we we call it the young change makers award now this change we are we have about five change makers award uh uh the journalists and writers Foundation realized that there’s been
Quite a number of awards that were submitted this year amongst the 64. that had a remarkable change making effect on society so we decided to give five Awards the first one is the young change makers award and the price of 250 US Dollars uh goes for this
Particular award let us see who won this award thank you yes our Global Journey that we have made back on earlier today takes us to the enchanting country of Spain where we have the privilege of bestowing the young change maker award upon the association Arco Forum the outstanding project the Spanish youth
Interfaith Ensemble has not only promoted cultural Harmony but also ignited the spirit of change amongst the youth this Association Arco forums dedication to fostering Interfaith dialogue and understanding serves as a shiny example of how young change makers can Bridge divides promote tolerance and contribute to a more inclusive and
Peaceful world join us now in applauding the association Arco forum for the remarkable efforts in nurturing the leaders of tomorrow and promoting Unity among diverse communities their work reminds us that the youth are a powerful force for positive change and that it can play a vital role in shaping a more
Harmonious and sustainable future for all I would now invite a representative uh Tamir nazari from the Spanish youth Interfaith Ensemble to give us an overview Tamir nazari and Julio thank you so much good morning good morning ladies and gentlemen my name is Tamir and I’m in the Intercultural
Promoter of hoide Spanish Interfaith in Ensemble youth Ensemble by its initials in Spanish and executive director of alcohol Forum first of all I would like to thank the GRE members for the recognition also special Thanks goes to the journalists and writers foundation for their continuous African inspiration before presenting our project I would
Like to introduce my friend Julio marotto Julius musical director thank you very much good morning my name is Julio marotto I’m uh I’m I am the conductor I’m Horus musical director I would like to thank you for this recognition or providers effort for sustainable sustainable development especially regarding peaceful persistence
Thank you Julio the Spanish youth Interfaith Ensemble hoide is an ensemble that emerged by the initiative of our institution alcohol Forum within the framework of the community project which was co-financed by the European commission as part of this project was the harmony Community campaign that aimed to improve intergenerational
Intercultural and interface dialogue by creating music groups that would gather to play together and share the passion for music Without Borders of culture Faith or generation and thus has developed and we unite musicians from Young Musicians from the three abrahamic religions to perform religious spiritual liturgical and cultural songs
From these Traditions beyond music however Fosters peaceful coexistence and personal growth of course spreading a message of Harmony and Brotherhood or fraternity since its Inception more than four four Young musicians encompassing Christians Muslims and Jews have actively participated in these Ensemble activities collectively they have delivered seven concerts six of which
Took place in various regions of Spain while one was held in Brussels Belgium however hoide goes beyond being so a religious musical group it serves as a platform for fostering peaceful coexistence facilitating the exchange of ideas and experiences among its members this Ensemble acts as a conduit for expanding their personal and cultural
Horizons in reaching their lives not only as musicians but also as individuals over time this sense of Fellowship is involving evolving into robust Community particularly among individuals hailing from different cities across Spain representing diverse religions and residing in various socio-economic contexts um we uh as Heidi we offer concept of
Three cultures mainly and also we are invited to be part of some events of religious cultural institutional and political significance to contribute to the objectives of those celebrations right we believe that we are somehow contributing to three different sdgs sdg number five objectives number five objective number six and mainly
Objective number seven would be interesting too the Highlight a Hoyt exemplifies the power of collaboration and Partnerships across cultural and religious boundaries by bringing together Young Musicians from different faiths we promote Interfaith dialogue and cooperation and additionally our participation in different festivals for instance in Brussels and Belgium
Excellent excellent thank you so much remarkable may you continue to inspire the world through the music of this young Interfaith and Sample thank you so much and all the best for the future right we need to move on to a very very special award it’s a People’s Choice Award remember that
Civil Society plays an important role in identifying and recognizing uh you know uh awardees and to uh like uh our director mentioned 65 000 people visited our website and 5 000 people have casted the votes so the this particular Award right is remarkable and that is why we call it the People’s
Choice sdg Award and let us see who won this award thank you yes our journey takes us back to the African continent all always known as the Dark Continent but they are very much light there because there’s organizations like this that find ourselves in a vibrant nation of Kenya
Now right here we have the distinct pleasure of recognizing the sisters of Saint Joseph of tabas for the exceptional commitment to regenerating agriculture through sustainable farming practices the sisters of Saint Joseph of tabas have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to fostering food security environmental stewardship and Community well-being their efforts in sustainable
Farming not only flourish the land but also Empower local communities with the Knowledge and Skills to thrive in a rapidly changing World let us extend our heartfelt appreciation to the sisters of Saint Joseph of for the profound contributions to sustainable agriculture in Kenya and we’ll call upon now Sister
Josephine matony cuenga to give us an overview of this project thank you son hello everyone yes my name is Sister Josephine cuenga I am the coordinator for development projects or in our Kenyan Province our project is about regenerative agriculture which is the growth of agricultural ecology in our self-sufficient and sustainable way
It is a form of Agriculture that grows inspiration from nature to develop synergetic farming systems based on crop diversity resilience natural productivity and sustainability regenerative agriculture is about sustainable human settlements and taking care of the environment to have just Planet it is about working with nature and not against it for prosperity and
Peace food security is a big challenge in our Kenyan communities and especially those in ruler and Ireland regions where Irene is insufficient and other resources are discussed it is this reality that triggers the sisters of Saint Joseph of tasks to have to initiate the regenerative agriculture to in order to enable indigenous Farmers
Through sustainable methods of farming ensure food security improve their livelihoods and the Environmental Conservation especially in response and implementation of the sustainable development goal number one number two number five and fifteen this also helps their social economic aspects we hope that with the continued and their little
Higher gear on this we can obtain more of the following research empowering more local farmers especially women change of attitude like the type of crop the food consumption to reduce also improve crop reduction to improve nutrition reduce Jesus and the less visit to hospital and then environment
Of friendly practices like the three are Theory you reduce recycle and reuse and in conclusion we are currently involved in scaling up this method in order to to partner with more local and uh International organizations and we hope even through this cooperation we can do better thank you
For your kind attention and God bless you thank you and now you know why this was the People’s Choice Award because you have been making a remarkable effort to put food on the plates of people in the poverty-stick and areas of your country so thank you and may God bless you as
You continue on your trajectory of promoting and and sustaining the country’s uh livelihood okay now as I mentioned early on these were all special Awards now we have five change makers award we decided to give five change makers award because lots of projects were deserving and they really
Made a change in uh humanity and society and now we award each one of them 250 US Dollars and now that our journey takes us to different parts of the world and the first change maker award goes to thank you yes our journey now takes us to the
Vibrant nation of Bangladesh where we stand in admiration of the patola foundation’s remarkable skills development program for social inclusion this initiative has made a significant impact by empowering individuals with the skills and opportunities that I need to participate fully in society the patola foundation’s commitment to social inclusion through skills development
Underscores the transformative power of education and vocational training they work as not only enhance the lives of countless individuals but has also contributed to the broader goals of poverty reduction and social Equity let us join together in celebrating pachola foundation’s outstanding efforts in Bangladesh their dedication into fostering social inclusion and
Empowering marginalized communities serves as an inspiring model for creating a more inclusive and Equitable world for us all and now invite a representative from the organization to give us an overview of this love project it seems that we don’t have do we have a representative from the patola foundation
Yes in fact yes we are and they are in the panelists section if you could please open your video and unmute yourself Muhammad if not we can come back to you when you resolve your technical issue okay then we go on to change Maker two right change Maker 2 is another very exciting
Award let’s see who won this award thank you yes our journey continues ladies and gentlemen and this time we find ourselves in the picturesque country of Greece here we celebrate the smile of the child Organization for the Innovative program risks of attracting miners through social media attraction
Right so as you know social media can be positive and it can be negative the smile of the child has displayed remarkable foresight and dedication in addressing the critical issue of child safety in the digital age the pioneering program not only educates young minds but also raises the awareness about the
Potential dangers of online spaces ultimately protecting the most vulnerable members of our society let us extend our heartfelt gratitude to the smile of the child for the tireless efforts in ensuring the well-being of children in an increasingly increasingly Digital World their commitment to safeguarding miners from online risk
Reminds us of the importance of nurturing a safe and secure environment for the Next Generation let us get the representative to now give us an overview hi can you hear me yes we can go ahead hello I’m Georgina and I’m the coordinator of um you smile which is a European student
Volunteer network of the smile of the child thank you for having us uh today so this year’s nomination is focused on our work on prevention Awareness on therapy and reparation um the smile of the child has a long-standing experience on implementing projects inside schools recognizing the strong role students parents and teachers
Can play in the Perfection of Children online so we also operate as a helpline offering support to children and families and cooperate with law enforcement and Child Protection online and offline but in this year’s Pioneers in sdg’s Awards the smile of the child has been nominated for a participatory
Project that the organization ran with the student Volunteers Of You Smile the organizations European student volunteer network a program that gives underage individuals the opportunity to take part in a major organization’s mission to defend children’s rights and the space to create discuss and showcase their own authentic unmediated opinions on issues
That concern them that being a legacy of a 10 year old boy Andreas ganopoulos who passed away 28 years ago and right before that he envisioned a more fair world for all children now a Pioneer in child protection and education and Welfare and education on children rights
The smile of the child through you smile aims to increase participation of children in all decisions that affect them while educating them on their fundamental rights and building their capacity to respond to any violation of those rights so in February 2023 you smile proposed research on how platforms
Of anonymous chatting can be used to abuse children um so on the occasion of safer internet day our student volunteers and members of the child Rights group of the organization took part in an experiment we conducted an online research to highlight a very serious challenge of modern times namely the danger of
Attracting minors to Anonymous chat platforms and social media applications and to present the risks involved daily while children surf on the internet the students with the consent of their parents and Guardians and under the strict parallel supervision of the specialized scientific staff of the organization conducted an online research and administered three hypothetical
Profiles of supposedly vulnerable underage girls created by by us by our members of Staff of the organization on Anonymous chat platforms and chatted with adults on unknown users they then filmed their experience and presented their findings and um from a total of 88 conversations one out of six men with whom the children
Chatted sexualized the conversation so this has led to the creation of an informative video that is now available on YouTube and as a result and an indication of how urgent educating ourselves about children’s Online safety is the video went viral within the first 24 hours after it was publicized for it
Addressed the demands of the children regarding Online safety towards parents and Guardians as well so we thank you for this and uh congratulations to uh all of you tonight thank you so much Georgina for the very very inspiring talk yes we in a digital age the fact that we are all connecting
Online and watching this award ceremony so the digital age is here to make a very very remarkable difference in our lives of people all over the world it brings people together like it’s bringing us all together from different parts of the world but it can be also
Very very dangerous and I’m glad that your organization is addressing that yes we move on now to our next uh award also a change makers award the third in this category thank you our journey now takes us to the breathtaking Landscapes of Rwanda where we have the distinct pleasure of
Honoring Sheba plastic for the remarkable project of the same name Sheba plastic the dedication to environmental sustainability and innovation has earned them the well-deserved title of change maker the Sheba plastic project serves as a shining example of how innovative solutions can tackle environmental challenges head on by addressing plastic
Waste Sheba plastic has not only contributed to cleaner surroundings but has also inspired change in the hearts and minds of the community please join us ladies and gentlemen in celebrating Sheva plastic for the outstanding contributions to a more sustainable future in Rwanda and beyond their commitment to positive change reminds us
That every effort no matter how small can have a profound impact on our environment and our world I have mama do query Diallo who will give us an overview all right thank you very much for this recommendation and uh my name is Mamadou I’m from Guinea what I’m currently based in Rwanda
So just a brief uh introduction about Shiba plastic basically our mission is to drive businesses in the sustainable with zero waste to landfill while we reward users for sustainability disposing of the plastic waste with us with tokens that they can read them later to get discount vouchers
For the type of services or gift with partner shops with that type of idea we come up um we realize that most of African people most of Africans don’t actually choose to go for plastic it’s because that’s what they can afford that’s the less expensive in the market
So now the idea was how can we make sure this plastic that they are producing is sustainably more managed with a lot of adding value to that plastic bottle that people see as waste instead of seeing it as waste the sustainably disposited dispose their waste with us through our
Mobile application and smart bins available within the cities in exchange of tokens and to date with sustainably um collected 50 kilograms of plastic which we recycled into Echo bricks and then we used to to pave the road to the entrance to my school the basketball court and yeah thank you very much for
This recognition we really do appreciate thank you so much Mama do for that very very nice overview and all the best and uh for future initiatives like this right we now move on to change makers for award now as you all know uh guess let’s hear the award
Yes our journey takes an exciting turn as we joined the hurricane foundation and the dynamic Hurricane football club on the football field today today we proudly recognize the incredible efforts with the change maker award there are confirm foundation’s Innovative use of sports particularly football as a vehicle for social change and Community
Development has been nothing short of extraordinary the dedication to empowering youth through Sports not only Fosters athletic Excellence but also installs life skills leadership and a sense of belonging among young people as we applaud the arican foundation and the Hurricane football club let us celebrate the remarkable achievements in
Using the power of sports to bring about positive change in the lives of many they exemplify how a passion for sports can be harnessed to create a brighter future and inspire a new generation of change makers I have etym apan who will give us an overview of this particular project
Hello everybody my name is I’m the project leader at the hirakan foundation the hirakan foundation is a UK based charity that uses sports for good and funds her project here in Nigeria the American FC abeokuta Nigeria hurricane is a community-based organization that uses football as a catalyst to improve
Academic outcomes and it could be on people with leadership and Enterprise skills that is relevant for the 21st century we believe that education forms the basis of all societal transformation and the quality of every society is a reflection of its education so we envision the war where every ninja would
Have an opportunity to attend an excellent education and we use Sports to promote that tool to encourage young people to be in school regularly and see school as a place and that is fun and to be in thank you so much thank you so much and continue playing football and making
Sure Sports plays a remarkable role for children throughout the world and yes uh we make an appeal to all people listening here today you use Sports use the Arts use all these uh mediums to ensure that we unite communities and bring people together right that’s what
We are here for thank you we now move on to the last change maker award and the award goes to thank you yes our Global Journey brings us to the pristine shores of New Zealand in the southern hemisphere where we are welcomed by the warm embrace of the
Saint Andrews uniting Church and the pearl of islands Foundation the welcome met initiative a collaboration between these two remarkable organizations serves as a shining example of hospitality unity and community building by extending a helping hand to those in need and creating a space of belonging they embody the values of compassion and
Inclusion as we step onto the welcome met in New Zealand let us celebrate the Saint Andrews uniting Church and the pearl of islands foundation for their outstanding commitment to creating a more welcoming and harmonious Society their work reminds us that a small gesture of kindness can have a profound
Impact on individuals and communities and let us now hear from who is the community engagement director responsible for the welcome met Khan for um you’re welcome into the journalists and writers Foundation it is really a pleasure to join you all tonight um in March 2019 new zealanders lost 51
Lives during the terrorist attacks on the two mosques in Christchurch and Dr Sardar Jordan was one of the survivors of these terrorist attacks out of it was born a beautiful relationship between two communities that includes the Saint Andrews Church um and we decided that we wanted to
Actually rely on the power of humanity to be able to bring people together after such a massive incident for a very small country in comparison to some of the countries that we have here today um so the project was really relying on the power of people to be able to come
Together to really understand each other and Dr Sarah reached out to the uniting church which is a local church in South Island uh to be able to build a relationship so that communities who are former Refugee communities that arrived here under the refugee quarter program
Are able to feel like they belong in a country where we were immediately sending out a message that maybe belonging wasn’t really a place for them or an opportunity for them and the United Church was actually very very gracious and the approach and invitation and invited a whole bunch of community
Members to actually spend a weekend with them so that two communities um people who are of the Muslim background and people who are Christian were able to come together in a very intimate space and get to know each other we were able to affect the lives
Of 18 families together who were able to not only understand each other but build long lasting relationships we feel that at a very microcosmic level that created an opportunity for people to be able to look beyond the critical incidents that are happening in the world today and to
Be able to rely on the power of humanity to create peace in the world um so we thank you for the opportunity for recognizing the work that we’ve done all the way here in the Pacific um and in the small island of South Island uh thank you for the opportunity
Thank you so much tayabakkan and carry on welcoming people through your beautiful Innovative met and I’m sure it’s going to make a remarkable contribution to World Peace you know bringing people together right uh ladies and gentlemen for those of you who have just joined us now in this very very
Prestigious award ceremony where we are recognizing uh organizations and individuals that are making a remarkable contribution in global humanity and and they are making a remarkable contribution in achieving this sustainable development goals you are more than welcome to continue listening to us right we are now at the stage as I
Mentioned early on due to some technical fault we could not get our first jury to give you an overview of the enormous task that was at the end in order to evaluate the projects there were 64 of these projects and the jury members had to sit over long periods in order to
Make sure that a lot of attention was giving so that they could satisfy the main criteria scope Innovation impact and stakeholders and I would now ask our second jury member uh Dr Thomas sidaris who is a journalist a documentary filmmaker and director and an Advisory Board member of the journalists and
Writers foundation will now give us his overview of the task that was at hand to evaluate these projects actor govender apologies for these last minute changes in our schedule but this is how the live sessions are going uh we do not have him at the moment but we
Have Dr nalugala our first jewelry member who was okay yes Dr Reginald a professor at the tangaza University of College in Kenya and also in esteemed Advisory Board member of the journalist and writers foundation with a remarkable uh you know experience in social justice and social issues throughout the world
Dr Reginald I know that the task that you had that you have been given by the journalist and writers Foundation to evaluate the 64 was not easy please tell us amazing because we’re looking at 64 projects approving for six countries and different background different aspirations but the three things is
Still about in our evaluation some of my learning lessons are maybe for future consideration is when I’m looking at Innovation and inclusivity ecosystem in most cases we emphasis a lot about Central support people matter but then we don’t exercise but by essential equal systems so that balance was very
Interesting for me just to know how proteins were dealing as well okay this is good but then where are all these stakeholders playing around and we found out there’s some tests in Africa uh women who to fetch water and when they go to one distance and during this
Conflict there’ll be a lot of insecurity to these women how would we make this Innovation better but water is available at the house or where they live now that brought me now to think okay if we talk about providing clean water sdg number six is still another way of making sure
We have water and then I was thinking about the current Innovation that are coming up where now we can turn air he present into ice and then you produce water and then what is available for all of us are we able to scale up our Innovations to this direction and so
Here you work this presentation that’s gone before I can see that it is grateful that the future is very bright for all of us thank you very much thank you Dr Professor Reginald for that very very informative jurist report and I must say as a fellow jury member or
This task was not easy it was extremely difficult because there were so many Innovative Awards there was uh projects there were so many projects that touched the emotions of our jury members because as you read through this project it’s was there in you know experiencing the
Work of these uh you know uh lovely people throughout the world and I’m convinced that you know looking at all these projects if all these projects are replicated in other parts of the world they make a remarkable difference in transforming Society transforming the mindset of people in order to uh to
Address uh uh recycling or waste uh problems uh to address poverty elevation climate change social justice and all other issues so yes it was a difficult task but like I said earlier on every one of you are winners right but we had to bring to fruition the uh the
Actual criteria that was set for people to win Awards and and today we are recognizing those people now we’ve come to a very very important moment I know it has been a very very tense Journey as we traveled through Africa through Europe through to Asia to go to
Bangladesh we came back to the South to New Zealand yes it was a very tiring Journey but an interesting jury and an inspiring Journey however we have now come to the situation where we have to announce the three most important award recipients the tension in the social media platform has been enormous
However we are now going to relieve you of the tension because we are now going to announce the Third finalist in this sdg pioneers of sdg 2023 Awards and the winner [Applause] in the heart of Chad Cameroon in Nigeria a life-changing initiative is flowing welcome to Fountains of Hope transforming lives through well reconstruction brought to you by Embrace relief clean water precious resource vital to life health and prosperity for too long communities in these regions have faced the challenges of
Water scarcity where mothers and children endure arduous Journeys for a sip of water and where hope seems distant but today a Beacon of Hope shine through Innovative wealth reconstruction The Fountains of Hope program is turning dreams into reality made possible by the collective efforts of caring donors local partners and
Embrace relief’s dedicated team this program is Paving the way to a brighter future compassionate donors and beneficiaries are the heart and soul of this transformative initiative Embrace relief breathes new life into existing Wells that have been abandoned Reviving hope and ensuring long-lasting access to clean water we work together with local communities
And governments ngos and partner organizations to help people in need Fountains of Hope spans across three countries Chad Cameroon and Nigeria with water scarcity affecting countless communities we aim to make a difference in the lives of those in need our team Works closely with local residents to understand their unique challenges and needs
From remote villages to bustling towns we strive to touch as many lives as possible already we’ve built over 170 Wells changing 170 000 lives mountains of Hope paves the way for sustainable development one well at a time through our well-reconstruction efforts we directly impact four vital sdgs goal
Six lean water and sanitation Bowl two zero hunger goal three good health and well-being and goal 5 gender equality together we’ve created a brighter future where women and children have new opportunities where Health improves where hope thrives Yes we are extremely proud to present the third place award accompanied by a cash prize of 500 US dollars to the Embrace relief foundation for the remarkable project Fountains of Hope Embrace relief Foundation as demonstrated through the project exceptional commitment to addressing critical Global challenges their project
Fountains of Hope stands as a shining example of how dedicated individuals and organizations can drive positive change through this initiative they have harnessed the power of sustainable development to transform the lives and communities in Chad and Cameroon Fountains of Hope embodies the spirit of sustainable development goals by providing clean and accessible water
Sources a fundamental necessity for health and well-being to understand communities to under-deserved communities access to clean water not only improves overall health but also unlocks opportunities for Education economic growth and gender equality the pioneers of sdg’s awards 2023 commence the Embrace relief foundation for the unwavering dedication to creating a
Better future their work serves as an inspiration to us all highlighting the impact that can be achieved when individuals and organizations unite in pursuit of the sdg goals join us in celebrating this exceptional achievement and the dedication of the Embrace relief Foundation as they continue to be champions of sustainable development the
500 US dollars that goes there to them will really help in order to extend and expand this program and I would like to ask Kevin Mitchum now to give us an overview and and his response to achieving third place in this very very prestigious competition Kevin
Good afternoon and thank you so much for your kind words on behalf of everybody at Embrace relief uh I am profoundly honored to receive this recognition um and thanks to the jury and the journalist and writers foundation for their work in uh in working on these Awards and putting together this
Celebration of human achievement and cooperation um as the video said you know this is a project that is addressing the profound challenge of Clean Water uh which is uh has important impacts on global health happiness and development as detailed in UN sdg number six our program to rebuild non-functioning
And abandoned water wells in Chad Cameroon in Nigeria has been a game changer for embrace relief it’s allowed us to provide more more clean water to more people more communities for the same level of investment as we’ve done in previous years as as noted in the video we’ve helped
170 communities with with Wells hundred and seventy thousand people and this is a collaborative project between Embrace relief our donors our partners in Africa and local leaders we’re empowering local communities to maintain and manage their water sources over the long term and our process invites all stakeholders to provide
Important input to ensure that each Fountain of Hope is carried out in a way that directly addresses local needs and cultural sensitivities this project is directly aligned with several of the unsdgs most prominently sdg6 on clean water of course but we’ve seen the impact on the other sdgs
Including sdg3 on good health we’re seeing a reduction in waterborne diseases and all of the communities that we serve uh sdg2 zero hunger um we’re seeing communities uh ease and even eliminate their local hunger needs through enhanced agricultural production and engender equality uh with women and young girls bearing the burden of water
Collection in these communities uh Fountains of Hope bring water to them they reduce this burden and unlock opportunities to repurpose their time for women and girls to achieve education entrepreneurship and Family Care so we’re very proud of this project and we once again are so thankful to the journalists and writers foundation and
The jury for recognizing our our work uh in alignment with the United Nations sdgs and we are honored uh to be a part of this ceremony and we once again thank you so much for your time thank you so much Kevin and congratulations on winning this award
And we would like to wish you and your organization all the best as you continue to make a remarkable difference in society okay thank you so much thank you right I don’t know about you chemre and Mehmet and other members but it’s getting so tense and it’s getting so hot
And it’s getting so uh you know uh exuberating and I I I’m feeling the heat where I am seated because the entire heat is being generated through all the uh AI platforms throughout the world where we are uh you know trans uh transmitting this particular award
Ceremony but we are coming to the second award now right and are we going to go to Asia are we going to go to Australia New Zealand are we going back to the United States are we going to South America are we coming back to Africa
Let’s see and the award goes to second position with an amount of 1 000 US dollars The Starving Artists initiative is an Innovative and unique approach that uses art and creativity to promote representation and intersectionality and Civic reform by utilizing art and culture initiative educates and raises awareness about the lived and
Experiences of marginalized communities to a wide range of audiences including policy makers Educators and Health Care Professionals this helps create a more inclusive and representative Civic reform process we believe that Arc is voiced behind numbers of those effects globally and through our work we help center and Champion people-centered Solutions
For us what we try to do is provide platforms and spaces for marginalized communities to express themselves collaborate with others and really focus on using art as a way to create lasting reform our story actually begins with our founder Ali Slater who is a passionate artist who harnessed the power of our
Own ill health and her own experiences to really focus on using art as a catalyst for change making her she realized that only through really authentically and vulnerably sharing her work she was able to create lasting impact through artistic voices exhibitions Publications workshops and more we aim to connect individuals
Artists and key players to collaborate and drive transformative change yes what a remarkable project we are certainly delighted to present the second place with a cash value of 1 000 US dollars to Ali’s letter University of Southern Queensland for the outstanding project the starving artist I can hear
The bagpipes in the background in Scotland at the moment right where people are celebrating in anticipation this journey to this award presentation has taken us to the picturesque Landscapes of Scotland where the sounds of bagpipes welcome us with open arms Scotland’s Rich cultural heritage and commitment to sustainability mirror the
Values upheld by the Ali’s letter University of Southern Queensland and the transformative project the starving artist the starving artist initiative exemplifies the essence of the sustainable development goals by addressing critical issues such as poverty inequality and access to education through the Innovative approach they have created a platform that empowers artists nurtures
Creativity and ensures the talent thrives regardless of economic circumstances the pioneers of sdgs awards 2023 commence the Ali’s later University of Southern Queensland for their tireless efforts to Champion the course of the sdgs their commitment to promoting artistic expression and social inclusion is a testament to the power of
Education and culture in building a better world as bagpipes echo in the background we celebrate this remarkable achievement and honor the Ali Slater University of Southern Queensland as they continue to be Champions so I would like to invite now a representative from the starving artist
To give us uh I think it’s Alice later will give us an overview okay like uh but but I’m convinced that she’d be very excited when she hear that they have won right the second position within cash value of 1 000 US dollars right now the tension is overwhelming
There’s so many more uh entries that submitted out of the 64 you have seen who have already received Awards in the different categories and we only have one more award to give who is it gonna be is it going to go to Europe again or is it going to go to Asia
Priyanka let’s not keep the tension anymore longer please reveal who has won first prize in this 2023 pioneers of sdg’s awards let’s yeah greetings everyone my name is Amanda blanckfield kossuth and I’m the founder and CEO of empowerbate we run a program called ycap which is the youth citizens
Action program and it follows the sdgs in the schools across our country in South Africa and the program that we run is sustainable scalable impactful Innovative all of the elements that need to be there for the sdg goals to be successfully reached and we’ve got extensive evidence of the community and
Personal development that our program brings we’ve had over 40 000 young people taking part in the program for the 14 years that we’ve been operating and we reach to the rural areas and very open areas of you know a lot of poverty and other distressing elements that go on social ills and environmental
Problems all kinds of things that are being addressed directly by these people in their areas so we don’t only deal with the the top level you know working with you know stakeholders that have control over these elements at a macro level we deal with a micro level people
On the ground who are dealing with issues every day and helping them to actually start making changes where they are so that it’s a bottom-up approach and is led by the people who are dealing with these issues on the ground so I think that is the the benefit of our
Program is that we are empowering people to be change agents active citizens and social entrepreneurs who think critically and have problem-solving mindsets and instead of trying to complain or get other people or governments to fix things they are actually taking matters and fixing them themselves and doing it in a positive
Way with positive values so that is what our program does and we look forward to seeing all the other entries in this wonderful program and thank you for considering our application wow excellent this time I’m not hearing Bagpipes in a background but I’m hearing vuvuzelas the famous instrument that is
Heard in loud pictures at soccer stadiums here in South Africa the Vuvu zela so the pioneers of sdg’s awards for 23 culminate in a momentous occasion as we announce the grand prize winner with a cash Award of 2 000 US Dollars the ultimate recognition for exemplary contributions to the sustainable
Development goals this prestigious award ladies and gentlemen is a testament to the unwavering dedication of individuals and organizations towards forging a more sustainable and Equitable world we are thrilled to present the grand prize on behalf of the journalists and writers Foundation a substantial Award of 2 000 US dollars to the outstand standing
Organization empowerment for the remarkable project the youth citizens Action Program our journey around the world takes us to the southern tip of Africa to the vibrant and diverse nation of South Africa which is with its Rich cultural diversity here against a backdrop of cultural richness and resilience we honor this particular
Organization for making a remarkable difference in society and I would like to Now call upon Amanda Blankfield to now the founder and CEO of the organization to give us an overview and and tell us how she feels now that this particular award was given to her particular organization Amanda
Thank you so much I’m trying to actually board a plane literally everyone is walking towards the plane and my camera doesn’t work I’m so excited about this award thank you so much to the Pioneer Institute awards for this opportunity and for recognizing the work that we’ve
Been doing for the last 14 years across South Africa to empower young people to be change agents and active citizens we are so so overwhelmed with the support that we receive and we thank all of the organizers and the jury and of course we really want to thank
The organizations that is giving us this award as well as congratulating all 64 participants because just being in the same room as you today has been absolutely fantastic just to see all the projects that are happening we’re definitely making strides towards achieving these STG goals and we must
All continue the work that we’re doing because we’re making a positive change so I don’t want to go into more detail as I said I’m boarding a plane because I’ve just judged one of the award ceremonies in one of the provinces in our country and we saw amazing projects
Where they made changes to problems dealing with um not having science labs at school dealing with not having access to libraries mental health issues water issues as one school that actually fixed the problem of having Polaroid in the river by their school I mean amazing projects that I’ve just seen right now
So this is perfect timing actually thank you so much thank you so much Amanda and a safe flight we’ve just contacted the pilot and the stewards on the plane and we’ve asked them to propose a special toast for you as you board the aircraft and travel on this remarkable Journey not
Only to where your destination takes you but taking you to making a better and a valuable contribution to society thank you so much to the youth citizens action program we wish you well and we wish you a very very successful Journey so ladies and gentlemen and all award recipients
And and recipients that did not uh you know uh entries that did not make it as I mentioned from the beginning and I’m emphasizing it once more every one of the 64 award uh uh entries they all were winners they were winners because in their own way as civil
Society they have went around their countries that they uh you know uh emerge from and they’ve done remarkable work in making this Humanity a better place to live in making somebody else’s life a much better life bringing smiles on people’s faces putting food on people’s table making a contributing towards a cleaner
Environment yes all of you have been winners winners because you have justifiably done what the great Almighty up there whatever name you call that uh that great uh architect up there you have satisfied your mission here on this Earth and we are hoping that many more people listening in today or by
Word of Mouth people realize that this competition was underway we are hoping that people can go and replicate throughout the world more of these projects so at the end of the day we’ll all be contributing towards a better planet for all of us to live in remember
The Future Leaders are the Youth of today and if we provide the seeds then we it will germinate into beautiful flowers and beautiful crops so ladies and gentlemen we’ve come to an end but I would like to thank every entry every organization or individual that have taken their time to put
Together these projects it is a very very difficult uh task but you have done so and by doing so you have made us aware not only are the journalists and writers Foundation through this platform here and many other platforms you’ve made us aware that there’s really good
People in this world and that is what we celebrated today so thank you to all the award winners go ahead and make this place a better place to live in go ahead and do more projects right and and by doing that you’ll be making uh you know
A very very valuable contribution so I’d like to thank all the recipients we’d like to thank the journalists and writers foundation for this very very Noble initiative right for the past few years that I have contributed towards uh you know uh this award the sustainable development goals so many people have
Benefited not only monetarily but they benefited because they’ve been given recognition for the work that they’re doing sometimes people do remarkable work but they are not recognized this particular project of the journalists and writers Foundation is a project that recognizes people so we’d like to thank you so much to the journalists and
Writers foundation and remember that this project will continue next year and and we would would urge you to pass this message to other people that are doing remarkable work in a community to also enter next year by by making sure that the projects are submitted on time and
They are satisfying the criteria and then by doing that then you know more people would benefit from these Awards remember to follow us on our social media accounts Twitter at jwf Foundation Instagram jwf Global and YouTube jwf Global so without much further Ado I would like to now hand you
To our organizers at in New York in New York will you now uh bring this uh program to a logical conclusion thank you so much rajendran it was a fantastic moderation as always uh you have been a terrific uh leader for this for this award ceremony with your
Insightful remarks I do appreciate uh your your valuable contributions but before we wrap up today’s program we have our uh distinguished jury member and jwf Advisory Board member Dr Thomas sudaris from Greece so I would like to give the platform to him before we uh conclude our session today over to you Thomas
If you could please unmute yourself you need to unmute Thomas okay I I think it’s okay yes good morning New York uh good evening from Greece it’s a a big honor for me to be in this year all of this amazing uh project I’m very very happy because this
Year we have fantastic projects all of them inspired from the highest human values um all of these products that are about equality about women empowerment I’m very very happy I have to chance all of this project 64 projects from five continents in the world congratulations to all submitters congratulations to uh journalists the writer Foundation govern I think that your work about in the world peace about in the world Justice it’s a very important work for all Humanity
Thank you so much Thomas Mehmet well thank you so much everyone for joining us it’s the fifth annual sdgs Pioneers in sdg’s awards ceremony uh we are really you know uh grateful for all project uh participants and apartments and project owners for your contribution to achieving sdg’s sustainable
Development goals this is uh something that we will have to collaborate work together and no one can achieve these goals by themselves of course you know there are many people who really work tirelessly in this project I would like to thank Zoya Ansari our intern from
India and also I would like to thank our associate Priyanka chahal for their tireless uh your contributions and hard work to to make this a successful event thank you so much joining and hope to see you next year you remembered all the best
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