![Participants in the entrance hall of the All Systems Connect Symposium 2023 (photo Robert Tjalondo)](https://www.ircwash.org/sites/default/files/styles/821x/public/52883484588_04e60a212a_k.jpg?itok=406XluvD)
CONNECT Award for young activists in the field of water, sanitation, hygiene, climate, health, justice and economic development.
After five years of organising the Ton Schouten Award for young communicators on water, sanitation and hygiene, IRC is launching a new Award. We are expanding our horizon and are looking to connect with young people also in other sectors such as health, climate, justice and economic development. The CONNECT Award wants to inspire the response of a broader audience of young people.
Each year we will send out a call for nominations for the CONNECT Award
The prize winner will come to a symposium, special event, field-visit or other activity as a rapporteur, speaker, journalist or videographer (depending on the awardee’s talent(s)) and joins in the activity. Flight, hotel and access to the event and some out-of-pocket will be paid for by IRC. Annually, a sum of 3.500 Euros will be made available for this. The only proviso is that the winner will have to organise their own visa when coming to the special event or activity.
The call for submissions for the CONNECT Award will be announced through the website, social media but also at special events where activists are present and young professionals will be encouraged to submit their profile.
The submissions will be received via a standard form which can be downloaded from the website and only those specific forms will be assessed for the prize.
Depending on the number of applications, a shortlist will be created by IRC staff and presented to a small selection committee who will determine the Award winner based on a clear description of requirements.
A small selection committee of four members will be formed each year consisting of two staff from the One For All Network and two people from sectors beyond water, sanitation and hygiene (e.g. health, climate, social justice, economics). We aim to have a gender and age balanced selection committee.