CCRS 2017: Awards

How to Apply

Select an award from the menu to learn more and apply online.

Deadlines

The deadline for all awards applications is September 13th, 2017.

Selection

Applications will be reviewed by a committee and award recipients will be selected on the basis of originality, dedication, and overall character. Award recipients will be notified by September 20th, 2017.

Questions?

Please contact conference[at]distressedchildren.org.

2017 International Humanitarian Award

Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain

Distressed Children & Infants International’s 2017 Humanitarian Award was awarded to Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain and presented to his family to honor his outstanding contributions to humanity through his leadership and act of extraordinary courage and selflessness.

Part of DCI’s mission is “Children Helping Children”. We strive to connect privileged children to less fortunate children and involve them in activities that teach them to think about others and inspire them to take leadership in humanitarian causes. This is how we nurture responsible and compassionate world citizens and future leaders. Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain is a shining example of the qualities DCI seeks to instill in our youth.

Faraaz was born in 1996 to mother Simeen Hossain and father Waquer Hossain. He graduated from American International School of Dhaka. In 2014, Faraaz went on to pursue higher education at the prestigious Emory University in Atlanta where he would then be admitted into Emory’s Goizueta Business School. He felt that his responsibilities lay in Bangladesh and was determined to return home after graduation, ready to follow in the footsteps of his mother and his grandfather. Faraaz was an exceptionally caring human being. He felt it was his duty to take care of everyone he loved. He proved this by making the ultimate sacrifice. During the Holey Artisan Bakery attack on July 1st 2016, being a Bangladeshi Muslim, the terrorists had given him the chance to flee. Faraaz refused to abandon his two friends who came with him to visit Bangladesh. That night, Faraaz stood for values that transcend the man-made boundaries of race, religion or nationality.

Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain exhibited extraordinary courage and amazing selflessness. He embodied deeply rooted values as he stood for humanity: the same values DCI strives to nurture in young adults through volunteerism and leadership. He will remain a shining example for all young adults to aspire to be, a life worthy of celebration and inspiration for all. It is our privilege and honor to award DCI’s 2017 Humanitarian Award to Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain.

About the Award

DCI’s Humanitarian Award was created to celebrate extraordinary humanitarian contributions and highlight the need for greater humanitarian aid in the world. This initiative honors global humanitarian leaders for their vital ideas, personal sacrifices and extraordinary acts of altruism, so that others may be inspired to greater service on behalf of humanity.

Award Criteria

The DCI Humanitarian Awards recognize and reward selfless individuals whose remarkable careers exemplify qualities of dedication, leadership, and compassion for the less fortunate. We welcome nominations of individuals age 25 or older from any region of the world who have made significant lifetime contributions in areas of service such as education, human services, and community development. Special preference will be given to those who have made contributions to any of the following areas of DCI’s mission: child rights protection, child labor prevention, global health, and blindness prevention.

DCI’s Awards Committee seeks those who have given freely to others from their hearts and offered their talent, time, and energy to meet unmet needs, stir hope, speak for the voiceless, and build a better world. Qualities such as exemplary leadership, vision, integrity, compassion, cooperation, and generosity will guide the selection of recipients.

Past Recipients

2013

• Dr. Mushtaque Chowdhury – Vice Chair, BRAC

2011

• Professor A.K. Azad Khan – President, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh

2017 Youth Leadership Awards

DCI is now accepting applicants for its 2017 Youth Leadership Awards. All individuals between the ages of 10 and 21 who are performing extraordinary acts of service to their community and demonstrating compassion for the less fortunate are encouraged to apply through the form below. The deadline for applications is September 13th, 2017.

Overview

Since its inception, DCI has striven to create connections between privileged and unprivileged children by involving children as volunteers in all organizational activities. Our Youth Leadership Program was established due to our strong belief that the future of the world depends on our youth, and that by nurturing their compassion, self-esteem, and ability to think beyond themselves, we can prepare them to become responsible and compassionate world citizens and future leaders.

The DCI Youth Leadership Awards are presented every two years at the Conference on Child Rights & Sight. The awards recognize and reward selfless young individuals whose remarkable acts of service at the local or global level show their dedication, leadership, and compassion for the less fortunate. The awards are given to youth whose service has made extraordinary contributions to the lives of others and a significant difference in countering the problems affecting humanity. By formally celebrating their achievements, we hope to contribute to their future success as humanitarian leaders.

Applicant Criteria

• Anyone between the ages of 10 and 21 years old may apply. Applicants may be from any country
• Contestants must demonstrate good citizenship, have a strong academic record, and show how they are making a special contribution to their school, religious congregation, or community at large
• The applicant must have participated in at least one volunteer program that has made significant contributions to the local or global community
• Applicants must have completed a minimum of 100 hours of approved community service, and must have participated in this work over and above their normal employment or studies for a period of no less than one year
• Applicants should be able to articulate and promote their cause in public

Application Requirements

• All applications must be submitted online through the form below no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on September 13th, 2017
• 2 short letters of reference (1 page or less) from non-family members (school teachers preferred) are required to illustrate the character, personal traits and leadership qualities of the applicant
• You may submit any supporting documents (resume, news articles, etc.) and/or video link along with your application; however, these are not mandatory

Recipient Selection & Prizes

Applications will be reviewed by a committee selected by DCI and award recipients will be chosen on the basis of originality, dedication, and overall character. Recipients will be notified by September 20th, 2017.

Winners who are able to receive the award in person at the Conference on Child Rights & Sight on October 14th will receive a monetary award and certificate. Winners who are unable to attend will receive a certificate by mail.

The DCI Youth Leadership Awards will be presented on October 14th, 2017 during the Conference on Child Rights & Sight. Winners will be invited to attend the conference as Guests of Honor to receive their award. Family members of recipients will also be invited to attend the conference as honored guests with free admission. Recipients will also be invited to attend a special dinner reception with DCI President Dr. Brian DeBroff, several ambassadors and other VIPs. The dinner will take place at Yale University on October 14th following the conference.

See past recipients of the DCI Youth Leadership Awards

Apply for a 2017 Youth Leadership Award

Past Recipients

2015

• Sreejon Lala
• Bushra Hasan

2013

• Juliana Fitzgerald
• Jayeeta Chatterjee
• Fabliha Ibnat
• Lamisa Mannan
• Fatima-Alev Mohie-Eldin
• Nikita Bhatia

2011

• Ryan Chowdhury
• Cathy Cann
• Saika Kibria
• Deanna Tutrani
• Salma Siddique

2009

• Asahi Hoque
• Amanda Chang
• Eric Zdanowski
• Ariq Rahman
• Lira Chowdhury

2017 Child Rights Essay Competition

DCI is now accepting submissions for its 2017 Child Rights Essay Competition. We encourage you to submit your essay for consideration through the form below. The deadline for submitting an essay is September 13th, 2017.

Overview

The Child Rights Essay Competition is held every two years to coincide with the Conference on Child Rights & Sight, and is part of DCI’s Youth Leadership Program. Its aim is to create greater awareness of child rights among children throughout the world and encourage critical thinking about global issues.

Eligibility

Contestants from any country are encouraged to apply. We welcome submissions from the following age categories:

• Group 1: Elementary and middle school students (Grades 5-8)
• Group 2: High school students (Grades 9-12)
• Group 3: College students

Essay Specifications

• Essays should focus on problems affecting children across the globe such as child labor, child trafficking or lack of access to education, clean water, medical care, or vision care and how these problems can be solved. The essay might be about any of these issues in general or about a particular case.
• Must be an original piece of work
• Must be an essay, and not appear in any other literary form
• Each contestant may enter only one essay
• Essays should be between 800 and 1000 words
• Essays must be typed – double-spaced with 12 point font
• Submission must include a title page and bibliography
• The title page must include the following information: date, name, address, email, phone number, and name of school
• The contestant name should not appear anywhere in the text apart from the title page

Winners Selection & Prizes

A committee selected by DCI will assess the essays and select the winners based on originality and ideas, message, organization, and quality of writing. In each group three prizes will be awarded:

1. Child Rights Champion (Gold Award)
2. Child Rights Hero (Silver Award)
3. Child Rights Defender (Bronze Award)

Winners will be notified by September 20th, 2017. Winners who are able to receive the award in person at the Conference on Child Rights & Sight on October 14th will receive a monetary award and certificate. Winners who are unable to attend will receive a certificate by mail. Selected essays will be published on DCI’s website after the contest.

See past winners of the Child Rights Essay Competition

Submit an Essay

All essays must be submitted through the form below no later than midnight (EST) on September 13th, 2017.

Past Recipients

2015

Group 1: Elementary and middle school students (Grades 5-8)

1. Rehan Kabir (USA)
2. Ifeanyi Okeke (Nigeria)
3. Nafisa Uddin (USA) & Chiderra Obidi (Nigeria)

Group 2: High school students (Grades 9-12)

1. Mehreen Pasha (USA)
2. Raiba Soada (USA)
3. Benjamin Ekpunobi (Nigeria)

Group 3: College students

1. Adiba Mobin (USA)
2. Jason Doukakis (USA)
3. Rumman Kibria (USA) & Sonia Chiamaka Okorie (USA)

2013

Group 1: Elementary and middle school students (Grades 5-8)

1. Catherine Yeh (USA)
2. Tristan Alston (USA)
3. Sofia Hoque (USA)

Group 2: High school students (Grades 9-12)

1. Sara Jovanovska (Macedonia)
2. Fahmida Alam (Bangladesh)
3. Jannat E. Jahan (Bangladesh)

Group 3: College students

1. Andri K. Sutanto (Indonesia)
2. Nyeneokpon E. Ekanem (Nigeria)
3. Liatema Munyu (Kenya) & Nsikakabasi E. Ekanem (Nigeria)

2017 Child Rights Photo Competition

DCI is now accepting entries for its 2017 Child Rights Photo Competition. We encourage you to submit your photo(s) for consideration through the form below. The deadline for submitting photos is September 13th, 2017.

Overview

The Child Rights Photo Competition is held every two years to coincide with the Conference on Child Rights & Sight, and is part of DCI’s Child Rights Awareness Campaign. Its aim is to use images to create greater awareness of child rights and the problems affecting children worldwide.

Eligibility

Contestants from any country are encouraged to apply. We welcome submissions from the following age categories:

• Group 1: Elementary and middle school students (Grades 5-8)
• Group 2: High school students (Grades 9-12)
• Group 3: College students & adults (all ages)

Photo Specifications

• Contestants may submit up to 3 photos for consideration
• Photos must be original work and must not have appeared in any other publication
• Photo content must relate to DCI’s mission and the objectives of the Conference on Child Rights & Sight. Examples of related topics include child labor, child poverty, child health, child rights issues, etc. Please visit our website or Instagram page for examples.
• Photos must be submitted electronically through the form below and must be in either .jpg/.jpeg or .png file format, in high resolution
• Photos can be in color or black and white
• Photos must not contain a watermark or any other text

Winners Selection & Prizes

A committee selected by DCI will assess the photos and select the winners based on originality, message and overall photo quality. In each group three prizes will be awarded:

1. Child Rights Champion (Gold Award)
2. Child Rights Hero (Silver Award)
3. Child Rights Defender (Bronze Award)

Winners will be notified by September 13th, 2017. Winners who are able to receive the award in person at the Conference on Child Rights & Sight on October 14th will receive a monetary award and certificate. Winners who are unable to attend will receive a certificate by mail. Selected photos will be published on DCI’s website after the contest.

Note

All photos submitted to the competition are the property of DCI. By submitting your photo(s) you provide consent for DCI to use the photos on its website or in publications for purposes of raising awareness or fundraising for underprivileged children according to its discretion.

Submit a Photo

Past Recipients

2015

Group 1: Elementary and middle school students (Grades 5-8)

• Raghib Yasar Polok

Group 2: High school students (Grades 9-12)

• Mohammed Arafat
• Siam Rezwan
• Zeehan Dewan

Group 3: All Ages

• Muhammad Munimuzzaman Khan
• Rajendra Mohan Pandey
• Moonjarin Shamsad
• Istiak Mahmud