New York, United States (July 23, 2009) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — The Asia 21 Public Service Award, which honors an organization that has provided outstanding and meaningful service in reaching underprivileged social and economic groups in Asia, is now open for nominations.

The award is a vital feature of the Asia Society's Asia 21 Fellows Initiative, which each year brings together the most dynamic next generation leaders under the age of 40 from across the Asia-Pacific region who will impact global affairs over the coming decades.

Nominations for the public service award, which need the endorsement of a past Asia 21 Fellow or Delegate, should ideally be engaged in innovative projects that can be replicated in other parts of Asia and beyond.

Last year's winner, for example, the Mashhad Positive Club (MPC), is a nongovernment organization in Iran that provides support to persons living with HIV/AIDS. MPC has shown extraordinary leadership efforts to improve the quality of life and empower women and girls in Iran impacted by HIV/AIDS.

This year, the award consists of prize money of $10,000 — and includes the active support and mentorship of the current Asia 21 Fellows class. The Fellows hail from diverse backgrounds and a broad range of sectors, from the corporate world to the environment, law to filmmaking. (For a list of current Asia 21 Fellows, see http://www.asiasociety.org/policy-politics/asia-society-initiatives/asia-21/asia-21-fellows-class-2009)

The selected public service organization will also have access to the Fellows' networks and skills that can help the winning organization further develop its projects.

The Public Service Award will be presented at the Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit in Malaysia on November 21, 2009.

The application form and details for the award are available at:
http://www.asiasociety.org/policy-politics/asia-society-initiatives/asia-21/asia-21-2009-public-service-award.

Asia Society is the leading global organization working to strengthen relationships and promote understanding among the people, leaders, and institutions of Asia and the United States. The organization seeks to enhance dialogue, encourage creative expression, and generate new ideas across the fields of policy, business, education, arts, and culture. Founded in 1956, Asia Society is a nonpartisan, nonprofit educational institution with offices in Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Mumbai, New York, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, and Washington, DC.

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