V-Awards, an initiative by the UN Volunteers India, aims to celebrate young people, who are making the world a better place for all, through their acts of volunteerism, every day and everywhere. The V-Awards will recognize extraordinary young people, who are changing their lives and of the communities around them.

V-Awards are especially relevant in India because we have the world’s largest youth population. Harnessing this resource will unleash unprecedented gains for India. Through these awards, we want to recognize the efforts made by young people and encourage others to do more.

Every day, millions of individuals across the planet engage in development initiatives through volunteer actions – both large and small – in order to improve conditions for others and for themselves, their families and communities. If you have been working towards bringing change in your society and have volunteered in any of the four categories, then you are a volunteer

1. Institutions/Colleges (NSS,NYKS,CSOs)
2. NGOs
3. Community (Working directly with a certain community.)
4. Social entrepreneurs

The award will recognise young people who have volunteered in projects focusing on social development.

1. She/he must be a citizen of India.
2. She/he must be between 16-29 years.
3. She/he must have volunteered at least for 150 hours in a volunteering project spread over the past year.
4. She/he must have a meaningful contribution for the community.

Note: ​The number of volunteering hours will have to be vetted by the organisation nominating the candidate. In the case of a social entrepreneur, there can be a self –declaration.

The applications are acceptable from 17th August 2021 to 14th October 2021

Once your application is submitted the work of volunteer will be evaluated on the basis of:

1. Impact
2. Engagement with Community
3. Evidence
4. References

Note:​ Keep all your resources ready before you start filling the application form.

Notifications will be sent out to all successful finalists by last week of October 2021. Through the email address provided for contact on the nomination form. The finalists will be contacted by the first week of November and it will also be highlighted in the V Awards website.

Winners will be announced on 3rd December 2021 – at the celebration of International Volunteers Day.

The following are the criteria under which nominees will be judged:

1. Learning orientation

This includes a commitment to unlearn and relearn, taking ownership of self-learning through various opportunities provided during and post-award ceremony and actively being part of the cross-learning spaces. Some of the dimensions to consider under this would be:

• Self-awareness
• Capacity for self-reflection
• Is there an identified learning agenda?

Motivation and commitment– Motivation and commitment are two key elements of volunteering. While doing Volunteering, it critical for an individual to stay motivated and committed to the cause and to bring about changes for the community. Some of the dimensions to consider under this could be:

• Level of motivation, passion, and commitment
• Is there any self-growth motive hinted by the applicant?
• Larger vision of bringing change or be a volunteer her/himself

2. Demonstrated passion

Irrespective of knowledge of any skill, it is critical that the individual should have a passion to do something active and creative in their community/field area to create change. Dimension to be considered- How passionate is the volunteer about the issue/the idea?

3. Social Inclusion

Social Inclusion- Greater understanding on all aspects of inclusion along with demonstration of the same through different means in the work done on field/community. That would include, however will not be limited to:

• How the applicant is relating to the experience of social exclusion and discrimination to her/his day-to-day life?
• Is there any direct linkage in terms of the idea/concept of the volunteering project and the experience of social exclusion or discrimination faced/witnessed by the applicant? 

4. Change in the community

Positive influencing the communities engaged with through the volunteering effort. That would include, however will not be limited to:

• Number of people reached out to. Depth of engagement with community
• Change made in the minds of the people, culture of the space, nature of a system or a process,
• Demonstrated evidence of a problem solved with examples and stories.
• A written or video testimonial from member of the community.

5. Creativity and innovation

It’s always an added advantage if creativity and innovation are bought in the way individuals interact with the community. For example: Innovativeness and creativity or any Innovation or experiment that the person has tried out while volunteering project