Life savers, bully-fighters and sustainability heroes. The Young Impact Awards are for young people who roll up their sleeves and make the world a better place. Launched in 2017 and co-organised by CJP, the EYCA member organisation in the Netherlands, the Young Impact Awards are a citizenship education programme with tremendous success.

The programme partners with schools and provides special events where young people are encouraged to take action and make a difference in their communities. Young people come up with challenges and use social media to get their friends involved. Over 1,300 challenges were created and met so far.

In addition, awards are given out as part of a huge party every year. The Young Impact Celebration brings together 10,000 young people who took part in the project for a night of dancing and recognising the accomplishments of their peers. The five categories are:

• George Maduro Award
  for young people whose bravery and quick thinking saved lives
• Young Education Award
  for young people who work to make school life easier and welcoming for everyone
• Young Environment Award
  for young people whose work contributes to protecting the environment
• Young Creativity Award
  for young artists who use their talent to make a social impact
• Young Innovation Award
  for young entrepreneurs and innovators who refuse to stand still and not create change.

The winners are chosen by young people with voters attending the Young Impact Celebration.

The third edition in 2019 is shaping out to be even bigger and better than before. Keep an eye on it at www.youngimpact.nl!