THE 15th HAZARA ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (2021)

• Application Submission Deadline: October 10, 2021
• Award Date: Saturday, Oct 30, 2021 (4-6pm local time)
• Venue details: Sardar Hasan Musa Girls College, Quetta, Pakistan

• Submit Online Form – https://tinyurl.com/yhbu7pvd

1. Social Activism (1 Award)
   Active involvement in community development programs. It can be an individual, a group of individuals working together, or an organization.
2. Arts/Literature/Culture (1 Award)
   Outstanding achievement in Arts, Literature, and Culture. Example: Published authors of work that significantly benefits the community, artists representing the community at national or international level, etc. It can be an individual, a group of individuals working together, or an organization.
3. Sports (1 Award)
   An athlete or an athletic-based organization with national and international accomplishments.
4. Specialization (Multiple Award)
   The Specialization Award currently include two categories: (a) Outstanding achievement in Research and Inventions, etc. This category includes an accomplished scholar with published work in reputed professional journals that significantly benefits the community, and/or research receiving accolades from professional community at national or international level, professionals with patents and inventions, or scholars with any other significant achievements. (b) Achievement in Central Superior Services (CSS) of Pakistan.
5. Education (Multiple Award)
   The Education award is designed with the help of our affiliated organizations and distinguished board members actively working at the grass roots for several generations. We constantly tweak this award to make it thoughtfully competitive for our applicants with diverse educational background applying from all over the world.

• Toppers in Board Examination (Matriculation/Intermediate)
  a. Matriculation – 1st, 2nd, 3rd position in Board Exam (1 award each)
  b. Intermediate (FA/FSc) – 1st, 2nd, 3rd position in Board Exam (1 award each)

• Student of the Year (2 Awards)
  a. Matriculation or Intermediate (FA/FSc) or Cambridge O/A Level (Junior)
  b. BS/BSc or MS/MSc (Senior)

1. Educational Excellence
   Proof of educational excellence throughout educational journey. Example: If Matric degree, then you should have A-1 grade in Matric. If BS degree, then you should have A-1 grade Matric through BS.
   Note:
   (a) An A-1 grade is not always the best measure of achievement. The Hazara Achievement Award (HAA) is more interested in the ‘spirit of the achievement.’ If there is less than an A-grade along the ‘educational journey’ —say, due to a personal or family issue— the applicant is encouraged to provide a sound reason as a justification.
   (b) This is not a requirement for Awards: Social Activism, Arts/Literature/Culture, Sports.
2. Exemplary Character
   Your accomplishments are not only individual but also for the benefit of the community. Even as you struggle to find ways to help, the community and the wider society sees in you an individual that is constantly influencing positive changes. Negative role of any kind in community is disqualification regardless of achievements.
3. Proof of Co-Curricular Activities
   Proof of non-education related activities such as achievement in sports, debates, singing, student clubs, etc. If two students had similar educational accomplishment, highest achievement in this category will determine the finalist. Example: A gold medal in international competition shows a level of accomplishment. However, the Award Committee very carefully goes through documentation submitted. The individual that positively influences the future of a community is not necessarily the one with a Gold Medal.
4. Community Work
   Proof of work that shows your active engagement with the community. Whereas the focus of ‘Proof of Extra-curricular activities’ is mostly your own personal development, the focus of ‘community work’ is how you influenced positive changes in community/society around you.
   

• Candidates are encouraged to submit all their relevant documentation to make a case on why they should be considered (especially in lieu of any major accomplishments or prior recognition).
• Candidates with foreign education (a) Must show equivalent accomplishment outside Pakistan (b) Show active involvement in the community of your current residency.

PICTURE GALLERY

[ 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 ]

About Hazara Achievement Award

Q. What is Hazara Achievement Award (HAA)?
The Hazara Achievement Award is an initiative of Hazara Resource Center (HRC). It is a collaborative effort between Hazara Resource Center (HRC) and partner organizations: Markaz-e Talimi-wa Farhangi Ummat (Ummat), Wahdat Guardian Organization (WGO), Women Initiators.

Q. What is purpose of Hazara Achievement Award (HAA)?
The purpose of HAA is to publicly acknowledge exemplary accomplishment of individuals and organizations in the ‘local community.’ However, HRC and its partner organizations have one of the most interesting and unique definition of ‘community’ — it is both local and global at the same time. In essence, we connect the community members —regardless of their current residency location, nationality, religious affiliation, gender, color, or ethnic origin— with their roots in Quetta city. Our hope is that it gives the members a unique sense of identity, an opportunity to share ideas and resources, and even help foster bonds of friendship between their immediate ‘local community’ and the community in Quetta, Pakistan.

Eligibility Criteria

Q. Who is eligible for the Award?
The Hazara Achievement Award is open to all current and former residents of Alamdar Road and Hazara Town enclaves in Quetta city regardless of their current residency location, nationality, religious affiliation, gender, color, or ethnic origin. The Award Committee comprising of HRC, partner organizations, and community intellectuals goes through a rigorous vetting process for every application form received. The decision of the Award Committee is final and cannot be challenged.

Q. I am a non-Hazara resident of Alamdar Road or Hazara Town. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes, any current and former residents (individuals or their families) with current or past roots in these two communities qualify.

Q. I am non-Hazara who recently moved to Alamdar Road or Hazara Town. Am I or my immediate family eligible to apply for Award?
Yes, everyone living within the Award area is eligible.

Q. I work in Alamdar Road or Hazara Town but I or my family do not live here. Am I eligible to apply for Award?
Yes, the person working and providing services to the community is part of the community and can apply for the award. Please note that in this case, only the person working is eligible and not their entire family.

Q. I am a Hazara from Afghanistan. Do I qualify for this Award?
Only if you or your immediate family can prove you or your family were former residents of Alamdar Road or Hazara Town area.

Q. I am a former resident of Alamdar Road or Hazara Town but currently both myself and my family live abroad and also not a Pakistani citizen. Am I or my family eligible to apply?
Yes, you have roots in the community and therefore part of the community.

Q. Can I apply for the HAA if I am a past-award recipient?
Yes, candidates can apply for HAA if they have major accomplishments since last they received award. Example: You won 2017 HAA for Sports but have won major competitions since last Award.

Q. I carefully read the requirements for the Award in the Application Form but still not sure if I qualify. What should I do?
You can send your questions to us in a private message from HRC Facebook page. Please ensure you have read this FAQ in its entirety. When asking question, be specific and provide any relevant information that is helpful for us to understand your question.

Hazara Achievement Award Prize

Q. Is there a monetary prize for Hazara Achievement Award (HAA) finalists?
Yes, finalists are awarded HAA Shield and Rs. 10,000. The Award committee decides whether there is monetary prize each year. The Award committee has approved monetary prize capped at Rs. 10,000.

Q. Why is monetary award given to finalists, and how is the event funded and conducted?
Several years ago, an anonymous community philanthropist present during the Award was inspired by the event and announced a fixed cash prize for the finalists. The HAA award has carried on that tradition since. The HAA Committee, after careful deliberation, has approved a ‘token cash prize’ capped at Rs 10,000 for a finalist. The approval of a token prize, in part, allows community one more way to become part of the effort ‘by the community for the community.’ Event Organizers and those helping are 100% volunteers–most from participating member organizations, although many volunteers belong to other distinguished organizations. Example: Scout providing security for the event or individual members of the community.

Privacy Issues

General

Q. Are Awards given only to those that apply?
If several applicants applied for an Award and none satisfied the Award criteria, then Award in that category will not be given to anyone for that year. The HAA committee is actively engaged with the community and makes concerted effort in constantly updating information about potential role models for the Award. Some of this information comes from tips by members of the society who ‘suggests’ someone that we do not know about. In such cases, we reach out to the individual or organization and encourage them to fill an application form for the Award.

Q. If I applied for Award last year (but wasn’t declared an Award finalist), do I need to submit an application this year?
Yes, all candidates are required to submit fresh application. There are several reasons for this
a) possible changes in award criteria
b) shows candidates are still interested
c) most importantly, it provides an opportunity to capture any important changes since last time they applied for the award.

Q. What should I do if I have submitted application and all relevant information for the Award but did not receive any acknowledgement?
During the Award process, HRC regularly communicates award-related information through its Facebook page. In general, we send an ‘acknowledgement email’ to all candidates whose forms we have received within 10-days after the form deadline. If you did not receive acknowledgement from us
a) check ‘email spam folder’
b) you may have provided a non-working email. In that case, send us a private message here on Facebook with your full name and email address so we can confirm.

Q. Can I better my chance for receiving the Award?
The saying goes, ‘chance favors the prepared.’ Turning a chance into an opportunity requires all of us to be prepared as the time window is usually very small. In the HAA case, many candidates fall short of being a finalist because of ‘obvious mistakes.’ To make your chance better, ensure
a) You read and understand what is being asked of you in the application form
b) Answer the question that is being asked
c) Submit documentation and evidence to back your claim. Example: scanned copies of merit certificates etc.
d) In categories like Education, where competition is tough, present additional information to make it easy for us to make a decision. Example, a Matric student may not have a CV/Resume but those in college/university should have a CV/Resume.

Note: It is normal to spend at least 40 hours creating and perfecting information in a CV/Resume (If you have online CV/Resume, share link of the website such as LinkedIN).

Q. I am applying for the Education Award, but I live in a non-English speaking country. What is requirement for document submission?
In Pakistan, acceptable languages for documents are both Urdu and English. We also have resident experts fluent in Dari, Persian, and Hazaragi languages. Documents in any other language must follow the acceptable International Standard for translation and notarization. Example: If your documents are in Swedish or German [or any other language], then you must provide certified English translation. The translation must be notarized by the public notary in your country of residence.

Q. Given that Award is local in Quetta, what is your expertise in evaluating a degree from abroad?
Our ‘Evaluation Process’ in general is as follows:
1) We use an objective process compatible with the international norms and standards.
2) HRC is a registered organization in the United States and several of our members are educated from and lives in the United States. The US Educational model and standard is very much followed by most nations across the globe.
3) We have sizable community across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The HRC functions by reaching out to and sharing and learning from other ‘like-minded’ community-based organizations. In addition, the Alumni of our partner organizations live and work across many nations across the globe. Many serve as part of our Advisory board and helps us in such matters. With the above said, we acknowledge our limitations, and constantly research, learn, and tweak this award to make it thoughtfully competitive for applicants with diverse educational background applying from all over the world.

Q. My Organization is interested in introducing the concept of HAA to our community [in Quetta, somewhere in Pakistan, or elsewhere]. Would HRC share information about the Award process?
We are working on a white paper introducing the HAA model where two communities can work together, share knowledge, and become ‘Sister Communities.’ Kindly contact us if you are a community organization interested to work together.

Q. Can I make philanthropic contributions to HRC or Affiliated organizations?
Yes, the HRC and affiliated organizations are non-partisan and registered non-profit organizations with an intense focus on the community. Kindly contact us for the details and impact of their great work in the community. Contact information for all the organizations is provided at the end of this FAQ.

About Hazara Resource Center

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