Muscat: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth announced the launch of the fourth edition of the Youth Excellence Award, a testament to honouring the exemplary Omani youth.
The unveiling coincides with the celebration of Omani Youth Day on October 26 each year. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Youth Center on Sunday.
Registration for the Youth Excellence Award 2023 is officially open today (Monday) and will continue until October 3. Notably, the fourth edition sees the inclusion of digital media and digital economy fields within its five categories.
Hamoud bin Salem al Jabri, Assistant Director General of the General Directorate of Youth at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, emphasised that the 2023 Youth Excellence Award extends the recognition of the remarkable Omani youth from the years 2014-2022.
He stressed the importance of focusing on youth efforts dedicated to serving both youth and society, along with recognising institutional initiatives that support and foster fair competition in community service, aligning with the spirit of Omani Youth Day on October 26.
Al Jabri also highlighted the expansion of competition areas to include digital media, digital economy, work, environment, and entrepreneurship, with an aim to empower, innovate, and promote transparency and equality.
Among five categories include 'individuals'. This category comprises projects or initiatives geared towards youth, executed by an individual (a young man, a 'youth initiative', a deliberate and considerate collaborative effort by young individuals, driven by a specific motive and purpose. These initiatives are voluntary, non-profit, and specifically target young individuals. To be eligible for this category, the project submitted for the competition must have been implemented under the auspices of an official institution.
'Youth institutions' is another category that is characterised by ownership and management by young people. These institutions provide services tailored to the youth and possess a valid commercial registration.
The fourth category encompasses 'civil society institutions' distinguished by their qualitative and professional nature. These organisations are registered with the Ministry of Social Development and operate in accordance with the Civil Associations Law. They deliver specialised services to the youth, excluding charitable organisations.
The fifth category focuses on 'private-sector companies', excluding government entities. These companies allocate a portion of their operations towards 'social investment' and extend their services to young individuals. They actively support and finance youth activities within the organisational framework and operational sphere of the company.
“Through this competition, the ministry aims to instil a sense of healthy competition among Omani youth, encourage the development of skills, and nurture a conscious, responsible, creative, and proactive generation. The award values are centred around empowerment, innovation, transparency, and equality, Al Jabri added.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Faris bin Mohammad al Aufi, Director of the Youth Programmes Department at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, provided details on the criteria for the 2023 Youth Proficiency Competition.
He said competition targets individuals aged 18-35 and emphasises voluntary, non- profit projects that align with the aspirations of young people. Projects must have completed a full year to measure their impact and should not have received previous honours in any forum or award.
Al Aufi highlighted nine key evaluation criteria, including connection with the youth sector, project description, planning and implementation, creativity and innovation, financial resource management, monitoring and evaluation, added value, impact, future plan, sustainability, and outreach to the community. Specialised judging committees for each category will evaluate the projects.
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