The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts has extended the deadline for nominations for this year's Youth Awards.
Initially, the nomination period was from June 9 to July 4, with the awards ceremony set for August 12. The ministry reopened the nomination window from September 10 to 19 after postponing the awards ceremony, and has now further extended the deadline to 1400hrs on September 26. Submissions will be accepted on official working days from 0830 to 1400hrs, with island residents able to submit via email at [email protected].
The Youth Awards are open to individuals aged 18-35. This year's awards will be presented in 17 categories, including business and economy, arts and cultural revival, charity work, mental health advocacy, environmental efforts, language revitalization, sports, fisheries and agriculture, anti-drug initiatives, and vocational training. The International Achievement in Sports award and the Shaheed Jawad Umar Memorial Shield will also be awarded.
The Youth Awards recognise and encourage the contributions of young individuals to national development, aiming to inspire them to be productive and responsible members of society. The awards have been held annually in the Maldives since 2016.