KITES Foundation

Kalam Awards 2022

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About The Awards

"The ignited mind of the youth is the most powerful resource on the earth, above the earth and under the earth"
- Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Volunteerism is an important and increasingly popular system for young people to devote their time, effort, and talent to a need, cause, or mission without financial gain. As we realize that volunteerism has gained very minimal recognition in our country, it is our core responsibility to recognize and appreciate the Volunteers, and Volunteer activities across the nation.

Kites India announces Kalam Awards 2022 to acknowledge and appreciate the journey of young individuals and communities who have volunteered and contributed positively to bring about a constructive change in our society and led a step forward to ensure a better state of living from the developmental aspect. Through this initiative, we aim to find individuals who are highly passionate about contributing to activities that lead to a positive social impact and development of under-privileged communities. In a world that seeks change, we create the ‘change-makers’!

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WHEN TO APPLY

  1. Applications will be open till September 30, 2022.
  2. Detailed report submission for the selected, will be from 01 October 2022 to 05 October 2022.
  3. The interview panel will review the entries in the third phase, from 06 October 2022 to 10 October 2022.
  4. Awards will be declared in the Second week of October 2022.

Category of Awards

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Social Volunteer Award

(Award for exceptional Volunteer Service)

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Social Volunteer Award is presented to recognize exemplary voluntary contributions by young individuals in the service sector. It aims to encourage youth to engage in meaningful voluntary activities. This award reflects the exceptional array of individuals working in our nation's vibrant charity and non-profit sectors.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Community Excellence Award

(Award for remarkable Communities)

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Community Excellence Award is presented to the outstanding functionaries to recognize their unwavering voluntary contributions to society. The award is to celebrate the non-government non-profit organizations or communities’ efforts and reinforce their practices in our society. The award also encourages greater participation from the young individuals to work in their community and beyond, for the nation's development.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Social Impact Award

1. For outstanding Not-for-profit, Non-governmental Organizations

This award identifies impactful projects that inspire a whole new way of bringing about a ‘change’. The award will recognize those wonderful projects that were rooted in an honest purpose to bring about sustainable development.


2. For Outstanding Startups

The Awards 2022 seek to recognise and reward outstanding startups and ecosystem enablers that are contributing to economic dynamism by spurring innovation and injecting competition. Startups that are building innovative products/solutions, scalable enterprises, with high potential of employment generation or wealth creation, demonstrating measurable social impact. The measure of success will not only be the financial gains for the investors but also the contribution to the social good.

Jury Panel - 2021

Medha Patkar

Dr. Akkai Padmashali

Sanand Sadanandan

John Samuel


Awardees - 2021



Mahesh Foundation

At the age of 21, Mahesh Jadav began Mahesh Foundation, extending helping hands to HIV-positive special children through Ashakiran care home, AIDS helpline and Marriage Bureau. They provide care homes for homeless girls with free shelter, food, medical and education facilities. Mahesh Foundation enables medically challenged and underprivileged children to live an independent and dignified life. The NGO working for “Enriching the lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS” and inspires other patients to fight the disease through various initiatives.

Ananda Siksha Niketan

Ananda Siksha Niketan means a school for joyful learning. It was founded, nourished and still maintained by Mr Babar Ali, who was declared as 'Youngest Headmaster in the World in 2009' by British Broadcasting Corporation. Ananda Siksha Niketan is located at Bhabta village of Murshidabad district in West Bengal. Students come from the downtrodden families of nearby villages, having no means to get their wards educated. Learning kits, dress, and tiffin were supplied to all students free of cost. Ananda Siksha Niketan's mission and goals are mainly to enlighten the students of their community in Murshidabad and help them stand on their own feet by imparting modern education.

Anju Verma

Anju Verma, the founder and CEO of Buland Udaan, is currently pursuing her BA first year in Economics, Political Science and Environment study. Buland Udaan (Bold Flight) is an NGO undertaking project concerning child labour, illiteracy, child marriage, female foeticide and child abuse. Their current mission is to make the states of Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab unconditionally free of child labour, child marriage, and child abuse. Also, they want to make every woman take pride in discussing menstruation.



Talent Quest for India(TQI)

Talent Quest for India(TQI) is a group of enthusiastic volunteers with the vision of creating socially responsible leaders in every locality. TQI has transformed from an idea of student involvement in social activities in their neighbourhood to a volunteering movement in about 30 districts across Tamil Nadu and the cities of Mysuru and Pune. They have engaged over 2500+ youth leaders to deliver holistic development and social awareness programs. What started as a group of friends in 2010 in their 11th grade grew into a decade long journey of volunteering movement where no one is a full-timer.

eVidyaloka

eVidyaloka is an educational social enterprise, with a vision to enable quality education for the children of rural India. It is realized by connecting passionate individuals as volunteer teachers from across the world with the Govt elementary schools in remote and rural villages of India, leveraging technology. It is focused on the children in the age group of 10-14 (5th to 8th grade), delivering live interactive classes in the local medium, through a powerful partner ecosystem. They work to provide e-quality education for a promising and rewarding future.

Dhisha

Dhisha is a voluntary organisation of youth, employing the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA), and defending the rights of the marginalised and thereby contributing towards a just and inclusive society. Their endeavour envisages building up a network of compassionate young minds who upholds humanitarian values and stimulate constitutional morality. Over the past six years, the organisation has been addressing diverse social issues and volunteering its social welfare service, in particular to the Marginalised Communities.


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WHEN TO APPLY

  • Applications will be open till September 15, 2022.
  • Detailed report submission for the selected, will be from 16 September 2022 to 24 September 2022.
  • The jury panel will review the entries in the third phase, from 25 September 2022 to 10 October 2022.
  • Awards will be declared in the Second week of October 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the 'Kalam Awards '?

    This is an initiative by Kites India to recognize and appreciate the passionate volunteers and organizations of our country, who have contributed their efforts, talent, and time to the betterment of our nation. We have the largest youth population in the world, yet the act of volunteerism is not bestowed with its due importance. Kalam Awards aim to celebrate the volunteering activities in our society and recognise their potential to develop our nation.

  • Millions of young individuals and communities contribute positively to bringing about positive change in our society and taking necessary steps to ensure a better state of living from the developmental aspect.
    If you have volunteered in any of these categories, then you are a volunteer.

    • Institutions/Colleges (NSS,NYKS,CSOs)
    • NGOs
    • Community (Working directly with a certain community.)
    • Social Entrepreneur
    • Social Impactful Projects

  • There are 3 categories of Kalam Awards 2022

    • Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Social Volunteer Award
      This award is to recognize passionate young volunteers who have remarkably contributed to the service sector. It aims to encourage youth to engage in meaningful voluntary activities.
    • Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Community Excellence Award
      The award is to celebrate the non-government non-profit organizations or communities’ efforts and reinforce their practices in our society. The award also encourages greater participation from the young individuals to work in their community and beyond, for the nation's development.
    • Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Social Impact Award

      i) For outstanding Not-for-profit, non-governmental organisations

      ii) For remarkable young Startups

  • Applications will be open from 25th August 2022 to 15th September 2022.
    Detailed report submissions of the selected candidates will be from 16th September 2022 to 21st September 2022.
    The interview panel will review the entries in the third phase, from 1st October 2022 to 5th October 2022.

    • The volunteer must be an Indian citizen.
    • The volunteer should be at least 11 years old and not more than 35 years.
    • Minimum six months of volunteering experience, by either working or running an NGO, or contributing to society positively in your unique ways.
    • The person should meet a minimum of three Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) through the volunteering activities.

  • Eligibility Criteria for the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Community Excellence Award
    • The organization/community must be registered in India or headed by an Indian citizen.
    • Founded or/and currently running with Indian citizens below the age of 40 as Board members
    • If an NGO, it must be registered under any of the government acts.
    • The activities of last two years will be mainly considered for the award.
    • Organizations or the community should be focused on youth-led developments achieving sustainable development goals, providing aid for the well-being of under-privileged communities, and building support mechanisms for their upliftment.
    • The organization/community should meet a minimum of three Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) through its activities/projects.

    Eligibility Criteria for 'Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Social Impact Award'
    • An initiative by an NGO/Community/Individual(s) ( In case of NGO/Community, it must be registered in India or headed by an Indian citizen ).
    • The project must be at least 60% completed.
    • The beneficiary of the project must be any Indian community, as a whole or a section of it, rather than a specific individual.
    • The project should meet a minimum of three Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
    • Uniqueness and innovation of the idea, primary purpose and immediate beneficiaries of the project, scale of success in terms of development in the community, etc. will be evaluated.

    • The organization must be registered in India or headed by an Indian citizen.
    • Founded or/and currently running with Indian citizens below the age of 40 as Board members.
    • If an NGO, it must be registered under any of the government acts.
    • The activities of the last two years will be mainly considered for the award.
    • Organizations or the community should be focused on youth-led developments achieving sustainable development goals, providing aid for the well-being of underprivileged communities, and building support mechanisms for their upliftment.
    • The organization/community should meet a minimum of three Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) through its activities/projects.

  • Awards will be declared on 15th October 2022, at the Kites India anniversary celebration ceremony, commemorating the Birth Anniversary of Dr APJ ABDUL KALAM. Award Distribution will be held at a special event in January 2023.

    • 1. Applications can be submitted through the online portal available on the website.
    • 2. Applicants can submit the entries by themselves. Nominations and recommendations by a second party are also accepted. In the case of Social Impact Awards, an organization individual/team can submit a maximum of 3 projects.

    • Selected entries for the second phase need to submit a detailed report of their activity, in the prescribed format. In the cases where nominated or recommended entries get selected for the second phase, the nominee is solely responsible to proceed with, and not the applicant. In no case, KITES India will be responsible if the nominee refuses to proceed further, and that entry will stand cancelled thereafter.
    • Entries selected for the third and final phase need to report before an interview panel in person (for Social Volunteer Award), with all or a minimum of 3 board members (for the Community Excellence Award).

  • Kalam Awards 2022 is a remarkable opportunity for passionate individuals in the service sector to showcase their works and talents in front of the nation. The award recognizes their selfless efforts that served society to ensure the better development of the nation.

  • Yes, both online, as well as offline volunteering, will be considered.

  • You can reach out to us by directly contacting the official numbers mentioned on the website (+91 8138 0009 35, +91 8138 0on9 33 ) or email us at [email protected]

  • As a Volunteer, Organisation, Institute/College, NGO, Community, or Social Entrepreneur, you can promote Kalam Awards 2022 through your social media network by using the website link, or posters that are officially released by Kites India. Encouraging the volunteers and organizations in your social circles to nominate themselves for the award will be highly appreciated. Please make sure not to make any changes to the existing posters and other collateral.

  • The major Evaluation criteria of deciding the winners will be,

    • 1. Impact
    • 2. Engagement with Community
    • 3. Evidence
    • 4. Reference
    However, the final decisions will be taken by the expert Jury Panel of ‘Kalam Awards 2022’.

  • No, unfortunately, you won’t be able to edit your response after submitting it. So please make sure that you fill up the form very clearly. Also, please keep a separate copy of all your answers submitted through the application form.

  • A person/community can apply for more than one award category, whereas a person cannot apply for more than once under the same category. ( except for project awards, where a person/community can submit a maximum of 3 projects ).
    In case of nominations, one person can submit a maximum of 3 nominations under each category, whereas an organization can submit a maximum of 5 nominations under each category.

  • In case of self-application, all the Kites Foundation Members, except the following categories can apply for the awards:

    • Ones who belong to the director board of Kites Foundation.
    • Members in the core committee of ' Kalam Awards 2021 '.
    In the case of nominations, the nominator can be anyone, but please make sure that the nominee does not belong to any of the above-mentioned categories.

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