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5 Awards - 5 Days
Countless Lives Changed
The Promise Awards is the World Youth Clubs premier global recognition program celebrating outstanding achievements in youth development across our worldwide network. Now in its fifth year, this prestigious initiative honors the leaders, programs, organizations, and young people creating extraordinary impact in clubs and communities around the world.
World Youth Clubs invites all affiliated organizations to submit nominations for the 2025 Promise Awards. This is your opportunity to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary individuals, programs, and organizations making a profound difference in youth development worldwide.
The 2025 Promise Awards introduces an innovative digital format, spotlighting 15 incredible finalists across five categories, culminating in the announcement of five Promise Award winners who embody the very best in global youth development.
Join us for an unprecedented Promise Awards Week celebration showcasing stories of transformation, innovation, and impact from around the world. Experience five days of award announcements highlighting the extraordinary work of youth-serving organizations globally.
1. Demonstrated Leadership and Initiative: The nominee has shown consistent leadership through participation in year-round programs and has taken initiative to make a positive impact within the Club and broader community.
2. Positive Role Model Behavior: The nominee consistently exemplifies strong character, responsibility, and integrity, serving as a role model for peers and younger Club members.
3. Community and Club Representation: The nominee effectively represents the values and mission of the Club in both internal and external settings, engaging with the broader community in a respectful and inspiring way.
1. Excellence in Creating a Nurturing and Empowering Environment: The Affiliate demonstrates exceptional commitment to providing a safe, supportive space where youth can grow, pursue ambitions, and build essential life skills.
2. Impactful Use of Global Network and Resources: The Affiliate actively engages with the World Youth Clubs network - collaborating, sharing best practices, and utilizing tools and expert guidance to elevate its local impact.
3. Transformational Outcomes for Youth: The Affiliate shows clear, measurable outcomes in transforming young people's lives - such as leadership development, educational progress, community engagement, or personal resilience.
1. Holistic Youth Development: The program demonstrates clear goals that significantly contribute to growth in multiple areas - such as education, vocational training, emotional/physical well-being, and leadership - with measurable results and evidence of success.
2. Engagement Through Enriching Activities: The program effectively utilizes sports, arts, leadership, or community service to foster teamwork, communication, creativity, and social responsibility, engaging youth in meaningful ways that develop essential life skills.
3. Safe, Supportive, and Inclusive Environment: The program consistently provides a safe and welcoming space that encourages friendship, belonging, and positive relationships among youth from diverse backgrounds, ensuring all participants feel valued and respected.
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1. Sustained Commitment and Reliability: The volunteer demonstrates long-term dedication and consistent involvement, providing dependable support across programs and initiatives.
2. Initiative and Leadership in Volunteer Roles: The volunteer goes beyond assigned tasks to lead, innovate, or improve youth programs and volunteer operations, showing exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to inspire others.
3. Advocacy and Representation of Youth Causes: The volunteer actively raises awareness, builds partnerships, or represents youth-focused missions in broader forums or communities, amplifying impact beyond direct service.
1. Demonstrated Impact on Youth Empowerment: The staff member has significantly contributed to helping young people unlock their potential, whether through mentorship, education, leadership development, or skills training, with clear evidence of positive outcomes.
2. Commitment to Support and Guidance: The staff member consistently provides reliable, compassionate support to youth, acting as a role model who fosters resilience and confidence in others through both challenging and celebratory times.
3. Promotion of a Vision for a Better Future: The staff member inspires and motivates young people to pursue their dreams, actively contributing to initiatives or programs that create lasting positive change in their communities and beyond.
Why Nominate?
Nominations for the Promise Awards provide a unique platform to:
Showcase the outstanding work happening within your organization
Selected finalists receive international visibility across WYC's platforms
Winners receive significant grants and support to amplify their impact
Connect with other exemplary youth development leaders worldwide
Share powerful stories that motivate and encourage the global youth development community
Nomination Process
Review the specific criteria for each category and gather supporting information about your nominee
Fill out the online nomination form completely (July 1 - August 31, 2025)
Provide photos, videos, or other documentation that strengthens your nomination
The Selection Committee may contact you for additional information
The Promise Awards Difference
• A $2,000 USD grant for award winners
• A $500 USD grant for each finalists
• Each finalist receives professional support to produce compelling stories showcasing their impact
• Global visibility through WYC's international platforms and media partners
• Recognition as an example of excellence in the youth development field
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Can my organization be nominated for more than one award?
What are the Promise Awards?
How many Promise Awards are there in 2025, and what are the categories?
Have there been any changes to the program since last year?
Who can nominate a person or program for the Promise Awards?
How do I submit a nomination?
What information should I include in the nomination?
My organization received a Promise Award in a previous year. Are we eligible to apply again in 2025?
Is my organization eligible for the Affiliate of the Year Award?
Who is eligible for the Club Professional of the Year Award?
Who is eligible for the Excellence in Volunteer Service Award?
Who is eligible for the Youth of the Year Award?
Is the program at my youth organization eligible for the Club Program of the Year Award?
How are Promise Award recipients selected?
What is the award process?
When are nominations open?
How can I find out who is named a 2025 Promise Award winner or finalist?
Who can I contact with more questions?
2024 Program of The Year
Teen Counseling Program
Club de Niños y Niñas de Nuevo León A.B.P. México
The Teen Counseling Program addresses adolescent struggles, particularly the lack of access to upper secondary education. This program has achieved remarkable success, despite facing obstacles such as a lack of economic resources in the community and pressure from organized crime.
One of the program’s most noteworthy strengths is its ability to adapt and respond to the changing needs of teenagers in difficult situations. This program provides a safe and confidential space where young people can express their concerns, receive emotional support, and learn important life skills like self-awareness, empathy, assertive communication, interpersonal relationships, decision-making, problem-solving, creative thinking, and critical thinking so they can be adequately prepared to face life’s challenges. The program not only focuses on teenagers but also involves their families to ensure that the youth have a solid support system during the personal development process. In the future, this program will focus on increasing its reach to more adolescents in the community through promotion and outreach in schools, community centers, and local media.
2024 Staff of The Year
Olga Ramos
United States of America
Ms. Olga Ramos, President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico, is a notable nominee for the Promise Award due to her outstanding leadership and commitment to growth. With over twenty-five years of experience as an accountant and lawyer, Ms. Ramos has made significant improvements to the organization since she became President in 2017. Under her leadership, revenue has doubled, and the range of services expanded to include both early childhood and adult programs. Despite facing challenges such as pandemics and natural disasters, she has led the organization to accomplish strategic goals while fostering a supportive environment for her staff.
Ms. Ramos is known for her approachable and caring leadership style. She’s also actively involved in all aspects of the organization, from visiting clubs to engaging directly with the youth and staff. She shows a strong commitment to professional development by actively creating growth opportunities and encouraging staff to get involved in community activities. By focusing, listening and practicing effective collaborative skills, she makes sure that the feedback from both participants and staff are included in shaping the organization’s programs and goals.
2024 Youth of the Year
Cruz Denzel Tabares Buentello
Club de Niños y Niñas de Nuevo León A.B.P. México
Since the age of six, Cruz has been an active member of the Club de Niños y Niñas de Nuevo León A.B.P, consistently excelling in all activities. He has motivated many peers to join and actively participate in the club’s activities. He is in his 6th semester at the College of Scientific and Technological Studies, focused on his goal of studying finance at Tecnologico de Monterrey. This academic focus demonstrates not only his strong intellectual abilities but also his long-term vision to positively impact his community.
When he is not studying in college, he is working on transformative environmental projects. One recent project he worked on is called “Plantatio Vitae,” a reforestation project that reflects his ability to turn ideas into tangible actions. His strong commitment to the environment and thirst for knowledge set him apart from others, as well as his consistent positive attitude and unrelenting determination. He is a true agent of change and a natural leader who is determined to generate a positive impact through his leadership and commitment to social and environmental well-being. He has shown an uncanny ability to lead community efforts, while inspiring other young people to get involved and become aware of the importance of sustainability. Cruz conducts his own workshop in which he educates other youth on topics such as reforestation, climate change, and individual steps that can contribute to bettering the environment, using interactive and practice methods.
2024 Volunteer of The Year
Seraphin Mutabazi Kamutera
Weaver School, DRC
Seraphin, a Congolese residing in Goma, D.R. Congo, has been instrumental in establishing the Weaver School, where he serves as the school’s advisor and counselor. Seraphin helps students with psychological barriers by holding counseling sessions with them. He has also helped to solve cultural issues at the school due to the multicultural environment with his effective conflict resolution and counseling skills, promoting a sense of togetherness. As a result of Seraphin’s efforts, he has fostered an environment of peace and friendship, where differences are respected.
The Weaver School has been a tremendous help for vulnerable children lacking formal education. Eight years ago, Seraphin facilitated the creation of schools so that underprivileged children could acquire the education they deserved. Without the use of financial aid, Seraphin has engaged local church members to support the school’s daily operations. The Weaver School began with eighty-five vulnerable children in 2016. This initiative has become an operation that hosts the most vulnerable children in Goma. Thanks to Seraphin’s leadership skills, the school has become a safer environment where students are pushed to excel in their classes and reach their full potential.
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