A recognition worth sharing

You’ll be happy to note that Mr. Ismail Sama, the young leader of the Pratham/BILT project located at Khavda in the remote Rann of Kutch area of Gujarat, has won the top honours at the Global Youth Participation Award Ceremony held in Taipei, Taiwan. The award which carries a gold medal and cash prizes is instituted by ECPAT Taiwan an organization which has a presence in 80 plus countries. Mr. Ismail was invited to Taiwan from the 3rd to 7th December to receive the award, present his work and participate in panel discussions. His presentation and participation in panel discussions was very highly appreciated.

If you recollect in June 2006 the same project won the prestigious TERI award at the hands of the then President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam.

The recognitions were conferred for “bringing the girl child of this remote and backward area having a predominant Muslim population, in the education net and thereby restoring gender parity. Also, that the Maulvi’s of Madrasa’s of the region were motivated to impart curriculum based education, something unheard of in the past”.

The photograph shows Mr. Ismail Sama receiving the award from the Interior Minister of the Taiwanese Government on 4th December 2007