The Taawon Foundation Awards for the Achievements of Palestinian Individuals and Foundations

Al-Taawon Foundation is proud to announce its competition for the 2018 Awards, and invites all cultural and private institutions, schools, leading youth, teachers and health institutions in Palestine to be nominated for the seven different categories. It is possible to apply for more than one prize, if the nominee meets the conditions and criteria required for each award. The following categories or awards are as follows:

[1] Al-Quds Award (Ragheb Al-Kalouti Award for Community Development in Jerusalem)

The Award aims at encouraging Palestinian NGOs that are present and working in the governorate of Jerusalem, in order to raise the level of performance in the community services provided to the Palestinian people. One of the objectives of this Award is to create community awareness of the importance of Palestinian municipal institutions in the development of the communities, and to work in order to support them, and highlight the outstanding achievements achieved by these institutions in Jerusalem to disseminate them. The award is worth $50,000, plus an honorary shield bearing the name of the winning organization and the slogan "Al-Taawon".

[2] Youth Award (Mounir Al Kalouti Award for Pioneer Youth)

This award aims to encourage young Palestinian entrepreneurs and support their pioneering initiatives, and to implement or develop their work, which must be characterized by creativity, innovation, and excellence. The total prize amount is $50,000, plus an honorary shield bearing the name of the winner and the slogan "Al-Taawon.". The award will be distributed to 5 initiatives,  meaning it's going to be $10,000 for each initiative. Half of the prize amount will be disbursed after the announcement of winners, and the other half after starting the implementation of the initiative within the guidelines put forward later.

[3] Al- Taawon Award for Education (Nabil Hani Kaddoumi Award for Excellence in Education)

The philosophy of the education award revolves around the role of schools in adopting and developing creativity and excellence, and spreading the culture excellence in order to create a  generation that preserves its culture and values, thus opening space for a positive competition among the workers in education for excellence and creativity. The prize is worth $50,000, plus an honorary shield bearing the name of the winning school and the slogan "Al-Taawon".

[4] The Gaza Award (Flak and Abdul Karim Kamel Shawa Award for Community Based Organizations)

The Award aims at encouraging Palestinian NGOs working in the Gaza Strip, in order to improve its performance and services provided to the Palestinian people. The objectives of the Award are to promote and motivate excellence and creativity in the service, protection, and development of the Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip and to recognize the role played by the leading Palestinian NGOs in the Gaza Strip. The award is worth $50,000 and is awarded to the winning organization to aid in developing it, in addition to the honorary shield bearing the name of the winning organization and the slogan of "Al-Taawon"

[5] The Achievement Award (Naim Abdel Hadi Award)

The philosophy of the Achievement Award is focusing on the role of Palestinian civil society organizations, in bringing positive change to the society and achieving outstanding achievements. The award aims to honor Palestinian civil society organization for their innovative and outstanding achievements, which have built bridges of hope for the Palestinian people. The award targets civil society organizations working in the cultural sector and active in all fields, including arts, performing arts, visual arts and various activities, for example: libraries, reading campaigns, cultural competitions, art and literature exhibitions, Cultural summer camps, heritage and cultural heritage protection programs, and initiatives of cultural and intellectual production. The prize is worth $50,000, as well as an honorary shield bearing the name of the winning organization and the slogan "Al-Taawon".

[6] Al- Taawon award for outstanding teachers (Mounir Al Kalouti and Hani Kaddoumi Foundation award)

The objectives of the award are to support creativity and excellence in education through applying creative and innovative methods in which students acquire the scientific knowledge and skills needed to create a better generation capable of keeping up with the rapid changes in today's world. This award is of great importance in supporting and developing teaching methods, and opening space for a positive competition between the Palestinian teachers, to develop the use of innovative educational methods. The award targets Palestinian teachers and Palestinian school workers (governmental or private) in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian camps in Lebanon, in addition to the lands in 1948 borders. The award is worth $70,000 distributed among 5 winners, with a winning shield with the winner's name.

[7] Al- Taawon Award for Excellence in the Health Sector (Ahmed Abu-Ghazaleh Award)

The award aims to promote better health practices and improve the quality of life of individuals, by rewarding advanced healthcare providers and organizations. The award targets NGOs working in the health sector in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian camps in Lebanon. The prize is worth $50,000 with a shield bearing the name of the winner and the slogan "Al-Taawon".

A group of Palestinian and Arab economic and intellectual figures in 1983, during the difficult situations faced by the Palestinians at home and abroad due to the Israeli occupation, had a meeting in London and deliberated on the idea of establishing a Palestinian institution capable of supporting and strengthening the Palestinian people. Hence, Al Taawon foundation was established as a non-profit organization, that works to empower the Palestinian people and protect their identity, and to highlight the values of freedom, democracy and other human values, in addition to preserving the cultural heritage and to unleash the creative potential of young people, women and children by providing equal opportunities for all Palestinian society. Today, Al-Taawon is one of the largest organizations operating in Palestine and the camps in Lebanon to support Palestinian people in various fields. The awards presented by the Foundation are meant to be as an expression of appreciation for the achievements and creativity of the Palestinian people, in order to preserve the originality and roots, and create a competitive spirit based on achievement and excellence. The seven awards presented by the Foundation are designed to appreciate and encourage civil society leaders, who are contributing to the sustainable development of Palestine.