Pamir Times represents Pakistan in World Summit Youth Award Ceremony

By Najeeb Ullah
The World Summit Youth Award (WSYA) ceremony was held in New York City last week. From a field of 650 projects representing 130 UN member states, 18 projects from 15 countries received awards. The events took place at the Hard Rock Café, the Verve Hotel, Lincoln Centre and the Roger Smith Hotel in Manhattan, New York City. Pamir Times unofficially (no commas) represented Pakistan in the ceremony, being the only Pakistani project present at the event.

All the winners and runners ups were conferred with awards and certificates for their innovative projects to help achieve the six Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations, using internet and mobile phone based new media .  The categories were hunger and poverty, empowerment of women, education for all, cultural enrichment, pursuit of truth and going green.

The participants presented their projects in the Hard Rock Café and the next day an award ceremony was held at the Roger Smith Hotel. The participants also discussed ways to support and improve each other’s projects.

As the award ceremony unfolded on the morning of September 20, 2010, it was evident that this occasion would exceed all expectations. Guests had arrived two days before from different parts of the US and other countries. The occasion was to celebrate the successes of a group of young individuals whose projects served as catalysts of change in their respective countries and communities. Through these projects, with their focus on putting different aspects of the UN MDGs into action, these young people aspire to transform our world. The WSYA recognized the undaunted spirit and achievements of these young change agents.

Pamir Times’ contribution was recognized and cited as an innovative media initiative, presenting to the outside world a little known, remote region of Pakistan and giving voice to its people.   For this achievement it received an award in the category of ‘pursuit of truth’.

The dynamic president of WSYA, Dr. Peter Bruck, conducted many rounds of workshops with speakers from partner organizations such as Intel Layla Foundation, UN G@ID, Knights Foundation and The Internet Society.

All the participants were also able to celebrate the successful five years since the WSYA awards program was established, its management as a nonprofit, development organization, and its evolution to include new philanthropic initiatives and engage new supporters and partners in exciting and progressive programs throughout the world.

The winners visited the headquarters of Bloomberg on the third day and were welcomed warmly. Later the day a workshop was held in which representatives of Bloomberg media discussed the opportunities, possibilities and challenges for new media with the winners of WSYA.

On the fourth day the winners visited Wunderman Advertising Agency and discussed with experts ways to promote their projects and forge partnerships with other organization for the achievement of long term goals of their projects.

As the events came to a close the organizers and supporters wished their guests good luck and success. The awards recipients said good bye to the event organisers and to magnificent New York City and left to embark on their new adventures.

Najeeb Ullah, Managing Editor Pamir Times, and Amina Khan, reporter and columnist, represented Pamir Times at the award ceremony and workshops.

Pamir Times thanks Peter A Bruck, founding president, and the entire dedicated WSYA management team. We look forward to an exciting year of new possibilities and opportunities for the future. The WSYA awards will continue to advance the projects of talented, creative young people worldwide through their awards program.