N/10/00, BS/12/00
June 2000
Bangkok, United Nations Information Services (UNIS) - The prestigious ESCAP Human Resources Development (HRD) Award will be presented to the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) at a ceremony at the United Nations Conference Centre on Monday, June 5th, 17:00 hrs. Also receiving an award as runner-up will be Micronesia Bound, an organization based in the Federated States of Micronesia.
Mr Adrianus Mooy, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and Mr Paul Tighe, Minister and Permanent Representative of Australia to ESCAP, will present the awards.
The 1999 ESCAP HRD Award for Youth Empowerment is sponsored by the Government of Australia and carries a prize of US$30,000.
H.E. Mr Bayin Chaolu, President of ACYF, will receive the award on behalf of the organization. ACYF was selected by a panel of experts on human resources development for its wide range of innovative human resources development activities for young people, and because of its high level of youth participation in its programmes and for the enthusiasm its programmes continue to generate throughout China.
The Executive Director of Micronesia Bound, Mr. Churchill Edward, will accept the runner-up award. This marks the first time that an organization from the Pacific has placed in the ranks of the top two winners of the annual Award. Micronesia Bound was recognized by the jurors for providing strong life skills and vocations training to unemployed Micronesian youth, with a special emphasis on youth in especially difficult circumstances.
The ESCAP HRD Award is presented every year to organizations that have undertaken exemplary work in the field of human resources development. ESCAP is the main organization for United Nations activities in the Asian and Pacific region. Located in Bangkok, it is the largest of the five UN Regional Commissions, comprising 51 members and 9 associate members and representing some 60 per cent of the world's population, or 3.5 billion people.
Note to Editors: You or your representatives are invited to attend the awards ceremony which will be held at the ESCAP Hall, United Nations Conference Centre, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, at 17:00 hours, Monday, 5 June 2000.