About The Award

Championing Youth Empowerment for a Sustainable Future

A global prize in Bahrain highlights young people's ability to change the world. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa trusts that the youth can change neighborhoods, nations, and the world. This renowned award shows his steadfast conviction in the youth's ability to create a world of peace, prosperity, and sustainability as envisioned by the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

At the midpoint of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), youth action is important to our collective future. One-third of the world's population—young people—are amazing and limitless. They can contribute in new ways thanks to unprecedented access to education, expertise, and technology. Their enthusiasm, drive, and connection enable them to overcome obstacles and pioneer unprecedented change.

Bahrain knows that investing in young people's talents, energy, and ingenuity is the best way to ensure sustained development and national prosperity. Bahrain prioritizes innovative programs that improve youth skills, training, and experience-sharing. Bahrain empowers youth to contribute to their communities and the world by broadening their perspectives and giving them choices.

The King Hamad Award for Youth Empowerment drives this project. In partnership with the UNDP, this distinguished prize honors young people and institutions that enable them to have a lasting influence. These exceptional young change-makers exemplify the SDGs by working to leave no one behind and create a more equal, wealthy, and sustainable world.

At the midpoint of the SDGs, the King Hamad Award for Young Empowerment highlights the critical need for young actors. It motivates youth globally to take ownership of their future. Together, we can make Agenda 2030 a reality, creating a world where no dream is too large, no problem is insurmountable, and every person flourishes in a society built on shared prosperity and sustainable development.

Please refer to the Application Form for more details.

MISSION

Recognize positive youth contributions from around the world, to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), along with initiatives enabling youth participation, action and impact in pursuit of the SDGs.

OBJECTIVES

HIGHLIGHT THE CENTRALITY OF EMPOWERING YOUTH IN THE PURSUIT OF A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL

The KHA underscores the important roles that young people can play in the development process and the great dividends of investing in youth initiatives to achieve sustainable development. Our aim is to motivate all sectors of government, society and the economy, without exceptions to work with and invest in youth, nurture their creativity and enable them to bring these ideas to fruition.

INSPIRE IMPACTFUL ACTION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BY YOUNG PEOPLE WORLDWIDE

The KHA has a steadfast belief in the capacity and ingenuity of young people to create innovative solutions to the world’s most difficult challenges of sustainable development. We also believe that recognizing unique and successful development innovations by youth can provide an important motive for others to emulate, adapt and follow suit, to be catalysts for change for the good in their communities.

ENCOURAGE INITIATIVES ENABLING GENUINE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT & ACTION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The KHA recognizes accomplishments of institutions, organizations and individuals that take deliberate action to expand the space for young people’s engagement in their communities and enable them to make an impact on sustainable development. Enablers are not often the focus of attention, yet their actions are critical to young people’s success. We hope that casting a spotlight on enablers will encourage greater support for youth and for sustainable development.