The AFS Award for Young Global Citizens recognizes young people for their commitment to improving the global community and whose actions contribute to a more just, peaceful, and tolerant world. The winner will receive a $10,000 prize. The Award will be given to a Youth Assembly delegate who:
- Demonstrates how their project is successfully addressing a pressing global issue, tackling one or more of the challenges outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and what this translates into in real-life impacts.
- Shows how their project successfully engages others outside their own community/culture and how this aspect is crucial to advancing their work. Projects must rely on intercultural understanding and global competence.
- Articulates how their initiative has significant potential to be scaled up and extended.
Past winners of the AFS Award for Young Global Citizens include:
- 2023 winner: Moemen Sobh, Egypt
- 2022 winner: Noel Alumona, Nigeria
- 2020 winner: Shah Chowdhury, Bangladesh
- 2019 winner: Luisa Romero, Colombia
Please see this video made by Khaled Abdulwahed who received special recognition at the 2023 AFS Award competition. The video demonstrates how the AFS Award enabled Khaled to build a house for a refugee family.
2024 AFS Award Finalists are:
Sabina Nazarli, POLAD (Turkey)
The POLAD project focuses on developing an advanced drone equipped with specialized algorithms designed to operate effectively in war zones and disaster areas. The primary goal of the drone project is to provide timely and efficient aid to refugees, disaster survivors, and people in hard-to-reach areas. By utilizing cutting-edge technology, this project aims to save lives and enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian aid delivery in critical situations.
Noah Khan, Digigrate (Canada)
Digigrate is an app that aims to bridge the technological gap faced by CSOs in India. These organizations often operate with limited resources and lack the technical capacities to efficiently manage and analyze their data. Our application enables CSO staff to use their smartphones to capture images of analog data registries. These images are then transformed into accessible spreadsheets, and the application provides automated insights into the data. The goals are to enhance operational efficiencies within CSOs through the adoption of available but previously inaccessible technologies, thereby enabling these organizations to make data-driven decisions and optimize their impact.
Karunarathnalage Lilan Udayanga Dayananda, Elzian Agro (Sri Lanka)
The Elzian Agro Project offers tailored precision agriculture solutions, utilizing web and mobile applications, integrated IoT monitoring, and automation systems to optimize resource usage for increased crop yield by over 7% while reducing unnecessary irrigation costs by 15%-60%. The project aims to provide climate-smart, data-driven precision agriculture solutions to support farmers in utilizing their limited resources (water, fertilizer, labor, land) optimally and increasing their crop yield and cost efficiency. Additionally, the project will create a scientifically validated new investment platform based on Primary Ecosystem Services (PES) to empower farmers financially.
Icheiko Achmad, Net Zero Hero by Girls and Women in Renewable Energy Academy (GAWIREA) (Indonesia)
Net Zero Hero is a comprehensive program dedicated to equipping young individuals with the skills and knowledge required to combat climate challenges and promote sustainability. This initiative focuses on empowering youth with both soft and technical skills, enabling them to become more resilient against climate change through the use of renewable energy technologies. Net Zero Hero has collaborated with more than 20 universities from 15 provinces in Indonesia, and it has 23 participants from ASEAN member states. The curriculum of Net Zero Hero is designed to be dynamic and responsive to the evolving landscape of climate change and renewable energy. It covers a range of topics including climate science, renewable energy systems, sustainable development goals, project management, and advocacy strategies. Through interactive sessions, case studies, and real-world projects, participants gain practical skills and insights to drive meaningful change in their respective contexts.
Central to the success of Net Zero Hero is the mentorship component, where participants are paired with experienced professionals in the fields of climate science, renewable energy, and sustainability. Mentors provide guidance, support, and personalized coaching to help participants navigate challenges, refine their ideas, and maximize their impact. Additionally, the program facilitates networking opportunities, connecting youth with like-minded peers, experts, and potential collaborators to foster a vibrant community of climate champions across ASEAN.
Diego Enrique Fernandez Irrazabal, Mbaretics (Paraguay)
The main purpose of this project is to bring potable and safe water to Chaco residents who deal with salted water. Mbaretics is a portable desalination device powered by solar panels. It uses an inverse osmosis system that puts high pressure on water to remove any type of contaminants, including salt. The device is about the same size as a suitcase, and it has wheels so that Chaco residents can easily bring it wherever they need it.
Justin Langan, O’Kanta (Canada)
O’KANATA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Indigenous youth through culturally integrated education and sustainable employment opportunities. Our main goals are to enhance educational outcomes, increase employment rates among Indigenous youth, and foster a deeper connection to their cultural heritage. O’KANATA combines traditional teachings with modern curriculum and job training, tailored to the unique needs of Indigenous communities. The project members conduct workshops, mentorship programs, and collaborate with local businesses and educational institutions to create pathways that are both culturally and economically beneficial. The aim of O’KANATA is to support the individual development of Indigenous youth, and also to contribute to the broader societal change towards more inclusive and sustainable community practices.