His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa delegated His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, to honour the winners of the fifth edition of the King Hamad Award for Youth Empowerment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, in the presence of a number of ministers and senior officials.

On the occasion, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa affirmed that the award has become a milestone and a pioneering international initiative, as the first award specifically dedicated to empowering youth in achieving sustainable development goals. His Highness noted that His Majesty the King's support for Bahraini and international youth has established the Kingdom of Bahrain as a global model for youth empowerment and strengthening their role in development paths. His Highness also praised the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in supporting all youth initiatives and ensuring the development of young cadres through various programmes.

His Highness explained that youth participation in achieving sustainable development goals is a message of renewed hope and conscious responsibility towards the future, where young people have proven their ability to turn challenges into opportunities and offer innovative solutions and practical initiatives that have a tangible impact at the local and international levels, showcasing leadership, innovation and commitment to their communities and the world.

His Highness also expressed appreciation to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its effective strategic partnership, and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its continued support, which reflects the integration of national and international efforts in empowering the youth. His Highness praised the efforts of the judging panels, commending their commitment to the highest professional standards, transparency and integrity, to ensure the credibility and fairness of the evaluation process.

His Highness reiterated that the award will continue to enhance the youth’s contribution to sustainable development and empower them to lead positive change. His Highness wished the winners continued success and a more accomplished future for the youth of Bahrain and the world.

Manal Fouani, UNDP Representative delivered a speech in which she expressed the programme's pride in participating in the award ceremony, praising the long-standing partnership with the Kingdom of Bahrain for nearly five decades in supporting institutional, economic, social and environmental development paths.

She explained that since its launch in 2017, the award has embodied the Kingdom of Bahrain's commitment to empowering youth and aligning its efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the close cooperation with the Ministry of Youth Affairs to develop the award and strengthen its international presence, which has been reflected in its widespread global popularity.

His Highness honoured the members of the preliminary and higher judging panels and the winners, with the results as follows:

Youth Action Category:

-Planet Award: Zain Ali Siddiqui – Pakistan

-Peace Award: Ange-Marie Nicodeme Esse – Benin

-People Award: Oliver Mwalongo – Tanzania

-Prosperity Award: Juan Didier Pierre – Mauritius

Youth Empowerment Category:

-Financial Award: Ashraya Initiative for Children – India

-Institutional Award: Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company BSC – Bahrain

-Technical and Digital Award: National University for Science and Technology – Oman