A Pakistani-American youth award recognizes excellence amongst Pakistani-American youth in a specific field (i.e. Academic, religious, creative, commitment to Pakistan or the local Pakistani-American community). It would include not only a public recognition of the winner, but also a cash prize.

This kind of a prize provides much needed encouragement, appreciation and self-confidence to Pakistani-American youth, many of whom, like other ethnic minorities, often suffer from a lack of self-esteem and self-respect.

It would also be a way for youth to not only strive towards excellence in their fields of interest, but also to contribute to their local Pakistani community or even a worthy project in Pakistan.

Here's how you can arrange this award in your community:

1.Discuss the idea with like-minded Pakistanis in your community. Gage what their reaction is to it. Also, if they agree (most probably will support the idea) find out from them what subjects awards should be given for (i.e. Academic achievement, commitment to activism in the Pakistani community, etc.). Also discuss what criteria need to be met before a youth is awarded the prize, as well as how to get the cash together for the award.

Get these people to become your core group to work on this project.

2. Delegate the work between group members. There is plenty to be done. Businesses need to be contacted to sponsor the award; a list of qualifications need to be prepared; a panel of judges needs to be brought together to judge the nominations for the awards, etc. There should be at least three judges for this award and to select runners up.

3.Choose businesses to sponsor the award. These should be honest, fair and have a commitment and track record of serving the local Pakistani community. Meet with the heads of these businesses. Explain that in exchange for their monetary contribution to the award, they will receive their names on the plaque that will be given to the winner and runners up of the award. They will also develop a good reputation within the community for supporting local Pakistani-American youth.

4.Advertise the award in the Pakistani-American community. Get flyers printed with the following information:
a. the name of the award and who it's given to
b. how many runner-up prizes are also available
c. who can be nominated for the award (i.e. Up to what age, school level, grade point average, level of participation in the Pakistani-American community)
d. who the sponsoring organizations are
e. what entrants in the contest have to do (i.e. Does the person nominating somebody for the award have to write a letter explaining why they chose this individual? Does the person seeking the award have to write a letter of intent, etc.)
e. the deadline to submit nominations and entries
f. the date the winners will be announced

This should also be published in local newspapers, announced on radio shows and the flyers should be distributed among family, friends, acquaintances and Pakistani businesses in the city.

5.Gather a panel of judges to make the decision of who is most deserving of the award, as well as who the top five runners up are. Judges should be people known in the local Pakistani community for their activism and dedication, who are educated, well read, committed to Pakistan and fair. None of them should be related to any of the nominees for the prize to ensure that there is no bias in the process of selecting a winner. Make sure that the judges stick to the deadline that has been agreed to to decide the winner and runners up.

6.When the judges have made the decision, get plaques made with the names of the winner and runners up, along with the names of the sponsoring organizations, the date the awards will be presented on and the title of the award (i.e. "outstanding Pakistani-American youth of 2001 in the Greater Chicago area: winner (or runner up)").

7.Organize a dinner and invite all of those who were nominated for the award, their families, and everyone from the local Pakistani-American community. This will keep the suspense of who won until the last moment and become a happy community affair. The winner should present a short speech and one person from the community should discuss the need for encouraging and recognizing the talents of Pakistani-American youth.

8.Thank the businesses who sponsored the award, the judges, and all who submitted nominations with a verbal thanks at the ceremony and a written thank you note afterwards. Encourage those who didn't win to try for next year's award.

9.Alert your local media about the award and its winner and runners up. This is a great story that newspapers in your community are likely to be interested in, especially if they try to cover ethnic communities. In addition, if these Pakistani-American youth get press attention, they are likely to get another confidence and self-esteem boost.

10. Encourage Pakistani-American friends in other parts of the US to establish a similar award in their city to benefit the young people there.

Date/Time Last Modified: 6/17/2002 3:49:15 PM

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