AGFUND PRIZE 2000

PRIZE SUBJECTS 2000‏: ‏

The Committee of AGFUND Prize has approved the prize subjects of the three categories for year 2000. These subjects deal with basic developmental issues that play vital role in the field of sustainable human development in developing communities:

First Category: (Combating AIDS Disease and Curtailing its Spread in the Developing Communities) Allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations.
Second Category: (Training youth aiming at increasing their Productive Capabilities) . Allocated for projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGO's).
Third Category: (Rationalizing Water Utilization and its role in the Environment Protection) . Allocated for projects founded sponsored and/or implemented by individuals.

THE WINNERS 2000

THE FIRST WINNER:

“TCE-TOTAL CONTROL OF THE EPIDEMIC”

The first category prize is allocated for projects implemented by UN, international and regional organizations. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 150,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Combating AIDS disease and curtailing its spread in the developing communities).

The “TCE-TOTAL CONTROL OF THE EPIDEMIC, has been selected as the winner amongst 12 projects competed for the prize under the first category. The project is implemented by Humana People to People , in Bindura and the Surrounding areas, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe and nominated for the Prize by PACT-Private Agencies Collaborating Together, with its headquarters in Washington , DC.

Zimbabwe is a country with a full-blown AIDS epidemic:

Between 20 and 25% of all adults are HIV positive.
There are over 600.000 Orphans – Children under 15 years who have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
The government of Zimbabwe estimated this figure to rise to 900000 by the year 2005.
220 people die every day, this means one person every 7 minutes.
3 out of 5 of all newly infected are young people, between 15 – 24 years.

Based on the fact that the problem of AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa is the most sever health problem, the TCE- Total Control of the Epidemic, has been created, after many years of work to gain better experience and understanding into the scope of the problem and its related social and cultural dimensions. The project aims at achieving total control over the spread of AIDS epidemic within 3 years, through education and community mobilization and counseling from person to person and village to village. The number of direct beneficiaries of the project is 100.000 representing the population of the area covered by the TCE program, which is a part of a project entitled HOPE, implemented by Humana People to People .

The proje ct begins by dividing the country into districts and every district into geographical area with approximately 100.000 people. In each area work 50 TCE officers, who were locally trained in educating the public on HIV/AIDS prevention and how to mobilize the people to take control over the epidemic and its effects both in their own lives and in their communities. Each TCE officer is responsible for 2000 persons and works under the supervision of two supervisors. Under this method every man, women and child in the community is mobilized to stop the spread of the epidemic.

The project is considered to be a unique and realistic approach to confront the AIDS problem, not only because it covers a large geographical area but also because it is very cost effective . The basic cost for the project is $ 1 per person Per your, for 3 year (300,000). This means that the total cost of the project is 300,000 to liberate 100,000 persons.

The TCE is also considered to be innovative and pioneering because it is a systematic and comprehensive approach to educate every member of the community and mobilize them to become actively involved in stopping the epidemic, within the framework of a concrete strategy based on the fact that (only people can liberate themselves from AIDS epidemic, every body else can only participate)

The impact of the project on the surrounding environment is very immense, because it works with the communities to stop the epidemic, help the infected people and enable the comminutes to work together so it encourages communication and cooperation. The project was designed to work for all countries of Southern Africa.

THE SECOND WINNER:

(TRAINING YOUTH AIMING AT INCREASING THEIR PRODUCTIVE CAPABILITIES)

The second category Prize is allocated for projects implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 100,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Training Youth aiming at increasing their productive capabilities).

The “TRAINING YOUTH AIMING AT INCREASING THEIR PRODUCTIVE CAPABILITIES", has been selected as the winner amongst 47 projects competed for the prize under the second category. The project is implemented by the Mongolian Youth Development Center , in Sukhbataar District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and nominated for the Prize by UNICEF Mongolia.

Mongolia has been undergoing a dramatic political and economic transformation. The transition to a democratic decentralized government and market economy has created new information and development needs for Mongolia's youth. Based on the surveys and studies conducted to identify the needs and all aspects of the issues related to the Mongolian youth, the need was raised for establishing the Information Training and Research Center for Mongolian Youth Development. The project is an innovative and dynamic step forward in attempting to address these needs. It aims to provide youth with opportunities to develop their knowledge and life skills and communicate with people throughout the world and gain more skills and experience, through social and cultural programmes.

The project has been designed based on the assessment of the opinions and ideas expressed by youth, which reflect their actual needs. This distinguishes the project from other projects that tended to be developed based on external assessment. The project is also a bold new initiative in terms of including youth in the implementation of a project that is for their benefit. Among the cornerstone activities of the project, is the training of youth to be trainers of other youth, through educational programme aims at promoting youth participation in fields such as health, environment and child right education.

The project includes the creation of youth centers for information, education and research to work in an open friendly environment. This provides the Mongolian youth with an important access to technology for communication and development, which is completely new to them. Through experience and skills gained through the use such technology the Mongolian youth will have grater vocational opportunities and will develop a sense of international perspective on development issues, particularly youth development. The project also covers activities like training in the fields of productive and general health, participation and non-formal education.

The project is considered to be unique in being the first comprehensive project aimed at the development of Mongolia's youth in general. It also serves to benefit other target groups, as street youth and neglected youth and also those without access to technology or information due to social or economic reasons. In addition, the outcomes of the project extend beyond the youth to include parents, younger children etc…

The project has great potential both for expansion in Mongolia and as model for implementation in other countries undergoing similar political and socio-economic transition.

THE THIRD CATEGORY PRIZE

This category Prize is allocated for projects implemented by individuals.. It is consisted of a financial reward of US$ 50,000.00, a certificate of recognition and a trophy. Its subject for year 2000 was (Rationalizing water utilization and its role in the protection of environment), for which ten projects from six countries were nominated.

Due to the fact that the projects nominated for the third category prize in year 2000 were of standard not sufficient to justify its award, the Prize Committee has decided to withhold the Third category in this year.