Young Minority Ethnic Awards Scotland
Nominations are now open for this year’s Young Minority Ethnic Awards Scotland. Now in its third year the aim of the awards remain the same; to highlight the value of those young people from Ethnic backgrounds who have inspired others and contributed to life in their community. They aim to acknowledge, encourage, reward and most importantly promote the positive achievements of young Scottish people from minority ethnic backgrounds aged between 14 and 26 years.
The awards will take place in Dundee Town Hall on 26th August 2010 and are used as a platform for the dynamic and inspirational minority ethnic youth of Scotland to showcase their successes and achievements.
The Young Minority Ethnic Awards Scotland originated in 2008 with the awards taking place in The Scottish Parliament. Since then its popularity has increased year by year and continues to attract many high profile sponsors such as Strathclyde Police, The Scottish Government, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and Shell, among others.
The awards recognise the achievements of minority ethnic youth in the following categories:
• Community Contribution
• Arts Contribution
• Sports Contribution
• Friend of the Environment
• Career Achievement
• Science & Technology/ Engineering Initiative
• Apprentice of the year
• Future Political Force
• The Bashir Ahmad Spirit of Scotland
Previous winners have included 2008 Arts Contribution winners, Knightswood Youth Theatre, a dedicated group of young asylum seekers, refugees and local Glaswegians working together to devise and perform exciting, original work; and through the National Theatre of Scotland’s Exchange Youth Theatre Festival have made a great contribution to Youth Theatre. Another deserving winner was Ifrah Raza, who took home the 2008 Sports Contribution Award for her sporting achievements in badminton. In 2001, with no previous sign of any illness, Ifrah suffered a cardiac arrest, slipped into a coma and suffered from chronic renal failure resulting in the removal of both kidneys. The following two years she lived a restricted life until she underwent a kidney transplant at the age of 13. Her indomitable spirit and resolute positive attitude to life saw her come out fighting and blazing a trail on the badminton court. Ifrah, aged 16, attended the UK Transplant Games in Bath in 2006 and Edinburgh in 2007 taking Gold two years running in singles badminton. In 2007 Ifrah headed to Bangkok, Thailand for the World Transplant Games as the sole Scottish competitor in the junior UK team – bringing back Silver in badminton doubles and Bronze in badminton singles.
Nominations close August 6th 2010, for more information or to nominate someone you think deserves to be recognised please visit www.whozthedaddy.info or send your nominations to Young Minority Ethnic Awards Scotland, Polar House, 20 Darnley Street, Glasgow, G41 2SE.
Photo:
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