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| TOYP Honorees Inspire Congress Delegates |
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On November 24, The Outstanding Young People (TOYP) Ceremony took place at the Fukuoka Sun Palace. Bruce Rector, 58th JCI President, was the Master of Ceremonies of this inspirational event. JCI President Fernando Sanchez-Arias, accompanied by Kevin Cullinane, candidate to 2005 JCI President; several Past JCI Presidents; and Olimpia Petzold de Sanchez, the JCI President's wife, presented the trophies.
The JCI Past Presidents who joined Sanchez-Arias in presenting the trophies were Thomas E. Gates from the U.S.A. (1969), Jennifer C.W. Yu from Hong Kong (1988), Isfahani Sameen from Sri Lanka (1989), Reginald Schaumans from Belgium (1991), Crispin C. Dy Jr. from the Philippines (1997), and Salvador (Salvi) Batlle from Spain (2002).Delegates were inspired by the ten honorees' lives and accomplishments:
H.M Queen Rania Al Abdullah II, Jordan
Humanitarian and/or Voluntary Leadership
Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah (formerly Rania Al-Yasin) was born in Kuwait on August 31, 1970, to a prominent Jordanian family of Palestinian origin. She studied Computer Science and Business Administration at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Upon her graduation from the university, Queen Rania returned to Jordan and pursued a career in banking. While working at a bank, she met His Majesty King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein (then Prince). They fell in love and married on June 10, 1993. They now have three children.
Queen Rania has channeled her energies behind initiatives that aim to improve the livelihood of Jordanians from various sectors of society. Her activities encompass issues of national concern, as well as several core issues such as developing income-generating projects, encouraging the advancement of the best practices in the field of microfinance, protecting children from violence, promoting early childhood development, and incorporating Information Technology into schools.
As a developing country, Jordan is tackling a range of key issues that have the potential to improve the quality of life of the entire population. "We in Jordan have chosen to face the challenges head on and to tackle them courageously, rather than to deny them," she says. These issues include environment, youth, human rights, tourism, and culture. In various ways, they all have the potential to raise living standards in Jordan, and to help the country contribute to global developments.
Queen Rania's working role is all about service to Jordan and the world.
Prof. Francisco “Jay” M. Bernardo III, Philippines
Business, Economic and Entrepreneurial Accomplishment
Prof. Francisco “Jay” M. Bernardo III is a faculty member of the W. SyCip Graduate School of Business and the Asian Center for Entrepreneurship. He is the chairman of JAD Group of Companies (JADGC), a conglomerate of several strategically aligned outsourcing businesses in manufacturing, logistics, distribution, research and development, information technology, and human resources.
He has continued to impress and inspire the world with his passion for excellence and his personal and business achievements. In the years 2002 to 2003 alone, Jay and JADGC received the 2003 Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM), the 2002 Agora Award for Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship (Philippine Marketing Association), the Honor and Prestige Award (AIM), the 2002 Personnel Program of the Year (Personnel Management Association of the Philippines), the Outstanding Healthy Workplaces in the Philippines for 2002 (Department of Health), the Pinnacle Quality Award (Procter and Gamble), the 2002 Business Excellence Award (Sara Lee Direct Selling), and the 2002 Logistics Contractor of the Year (Johnson and Johnson).
Prof. Bernardo has been passionately pushing entrepreneurship in the Philippines to uplift the economy. He founded LET’S GO (Leading Entrepreneurs Towards Sensing Global Opportunities), a non-profit, non-stock organization that aims to support small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs. LET’S GO won the World Bank’s 1st Philippine Development Innovation Marketplace Competition, held in January 2004 for producing instructional video modules to teach entrepreneurship, primarily in public schools. Prof. Bernardo's entrepreneurial accomplishments are an inspiration to young people worldwide.
Vivian “Kelly” Chen, Hong Kong
Contribution to Children, world peace, and/or human rights
Vivian “Kelly” Chen, was born September 13, 1973, in Hong Kong. While working in the Hong Kong's entertainment business for nine years, she has become a respected figure and role model in Chinese communities around the world. Kelly Chen has released 55 albums into Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese and has received more than 200 music awards throughout Aria. She has also starred in 13 movies and was the voice behind three animated cartoon characters, including Disney's Mulan.
Kelly Chen has focused not only on her movie and acting career, but also in several charitable endeavors, many of which advocate the wellbeing of children, especially in the area of education. The Kelly Chen Children Education Fund (KCCEF) was established in April 2002 to advance children's issues and increase public awareness toward children's welfare.
KCCEF has provided educational subsidies, promoted intelligence development and established two primary schools in Guizhou, the poorest province in Mainland China. In addition to granting educational subsidies for tuitions fees, books and traveling allowances to develop children's intelligence, KCCEF is promoting art and sports-related extracurricular activities. Through her actions and through KCCEF, Kelly Chen, is contributing to improve countless children's lives.
Rev. Ch’ng Joo Beng, Malaysia
Humanitarian and/or Voluntary Leadership
Rev. Ch’ng was a problematic child. During his teenage years, he became a drug addict. When his family and friends gave up on him, his 12-yeard-old niece told him about a rehabilitation center for drug addicts. His two weeks in that center were "life in hell," but they successfully curbed his drug addiction.
With only a five-year education, he had problems finding a job, until he was accepted into a religious school in Taiwan. While there, he also served at a center for disabled people, where he met his wife, who was in a wheelchair and whose determination and strength touched him and restored his confidence in life. When he graduated, he decided he would dedicate his life to serving the disabled.
In 1991, Rev. Ch’ng and his wife moved back to Penang and started the Eden Handicap Center. Focused on helping the disabled overcome their psychological barriers and physical weaknesses, Rev. Ch’ng helps them not only by meeting their daily needs, but also by giving them self respect and the skills to earn a living.
In 2000, Rev. Ch’ng and his wife set up another center in Kuala Lumpur, and in 2004, they collected donations, and are now establishing yet another center in Pekan Nanas. Through selfless dedication and determination, Rev. Ch’ng has helped a total of 600 disabled persons in Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Additionally, through some 300 motivational presentations, he has created awareness of the needs of the disabled.
Dr. Koshy P. Eapen, India
Medical Innovation
After graduating as a Medical Doctor, Dr. Koshy Eapen began to work at a hospital caring mainly for geriatric patients. He soon discovered that the problems of the aged were too large to be tackled by a single hospital or doctor. This led him to develop a Comprehensive Cost –Effective Health Policy for the Aged in India.
Dr. Eapen's proudest distinction is being able to set up a plethora of geriatric care systems and protocols. Initially implemented at the PMI hospital, these systems and protocols have been adopted as models for elderly care management throughout the state. He studied Human Resource Management to train others in geriatric care and organized the training of nurses in Palliative Care and Counseling for the elderly. The aged were also educated on healthy lifestyles.
Focusing on how elderly care and policies in developed countries can be emulated at a low cost in India, where there is a large elderly population, Dr. Eapen has helped provide the elderly with excellent treatments at a fraction of the cost incurred in developed countries. He also created the state's first Doctor's Locum Service to place doctors in areas of need all over the state.
Because of his amazing success in geriatric care in Kerala, he has received several awards, including the "Excellence in Achievement Award for 2004." Thanks to his dedicated work, as well as his commitment, generosity, determination, courage, and leadership skills, Dr. Eapen has helped improve conditions for the elderly in India.
Hugh Evans, Australia
Humanitarian and/or Voluntary Leadership
Hugh Evans, a 20-year-old aid worker who has dedicated his adult life to helping the world's poor, is the founder and director of the Oak Tree Foundation, Australia's first youth-run aid agency. The Oak Tree Foundation has more than 250 volunteers under the age of 25 and seeks to empower poor communities in developing countries through education.
"I think all young people, in fact all Australians, have a responsibility to work to fight for justice in our world," said Evans. His commitment to the poor was forged when he experienced the squalor of the Manila slums during a study tour of the Philippines as a 14-year-old schoolboy.
In 2002, Evans, who lives in Melbourne, spent seven months working in the impoverished Embo Valley in South Africa, leading the construction of a sports field and community library. He also worked in an AIDS orphanage, where he established a new child sponsorship program, and helped to establish the Youth Ambassador Program.
Recognizing Evans' efforts to help the poor people of the world, in January 2002, Prime Minister John Howard presented Evans with the Young Australian of the Year Award. In spite of his youth and thanks to his commitment, passions and concern for others, Evans has already helped thousands of people in Australia and around the world.
Dr. Takanori Shibata, Japan
Scientific and/or Technological Development
Dr. Takanori Shibata was born in 1967. He obtained his Ph.D. in Engineering at the age of 25, breaking the record in Japan as the youngest Ph.D. in Engineering. Dr. Shivata's research and development has focused on building life enhancing relationships between humans and robots. Robotics has traditionally been geared toward developing robots to assist or replace human labor, reducing costs and increasing productivity. Dr. Shibata, however, has concentrated his efforts on creating robots that interact with humans.
For social welfare use, he has developed a robot in the form of a furry seal pup known as "Paro," as well as a robot that looks and acts like a pet cat, giving birth to the new field of "robot therapy." These two robots have skin that is touch-sensitive and reacts to human touch. They move and utter sounds when people approach or pet them. According to long-term research data, Paro has contributed greatly to healing, relieving stress and easing the pain and suffering associated with senile dementia.
Paro has achieved fame throughout the world for its unique shape and effectiveness. In February 2002, Paro entered the Guiness Book of World Records as the world's most therapeutic robot. Paro has earned Dr. Shibata numerous awards, including the "COMDEX Best Award finalist" at the annual COMDEX computer convention in Las Vegas, and has been featured on CNN.
Dr. Shibata's has also contributed greatly to business development in his hometown of Tonamino in Toyama Prefecture by working with small- and medium-sized local businesses to produce Paro robots. Additionally, he has been working to find a solution to the dangers posed to human beings by land mines. Robot technology is more important than ever in that field.
Sabelo Sibanda, Zimbabwe
Cultural Achievement
Sabelo Sibanda was born in 1966. His career can be summed up as that of a cultural revivalist as he has focused on reviving African pride, self-esteem and dignity by showing how traditional African principles and values are relevant today.
His teachings of Ubuntu (Humanism) — based on the principle that "I am because we are and we are because I am" — have not been restricted to Africa. Through workshops, seminars and artistic performances, he has spread the African cultural experience to other countries. He has fought cultural disorientation, disunity, HIV and AIDS, political neutrality, and lack of funds in order to educate, promote and preserve African culture and traditions.
In addition to participating in countless conferences, Sabelo Sibanda founded the School of African Awareness and became its chairman, organized the Ma-Africa Styles Designers' Competition, participated in the African Students' Society (Aberdeen, Scotland) from 1990 until 1994, founded the African Awareness Community Theatre, is an advisor to the Njube Awareness Youth Group, and created African Awareness Clubs in schools. He participates in a national TV program and advises the Affirmative Action Group (AAG) on legal and business issues.
Sibanda has successfully shown that African culture can coexist with other cultures and contribute positively to shape values and goals for today's youth. The Sabelo Sibanda's School of African Awareness, which has promoted African culture and traditions, has advanced understanding, acceptance and pride among African youth. Sibanda's work, which shows that "Service to humanity is the best work of life," is a legacy to African youth.
Dr. Anurag Tandon, India
Medical Innovation
Dr. Anurag Tandon was born in 1965 to a family of lawyers in Varanasi, India. A brilliant student, he graduated from the Allahabad University in 1980, specialized in ophthalmic surgery, and began his professional career by joining two charitable hospitals and setting up his own clinic.
Since 1993, Dr. Tandon has been performing many free cataract operations at the Punjabi Hospital. In India, where many people become blind because of cataracts, Dr. Tandon's work has been providential in saving thousands of poor people from blindness.
Inspired by the selfless services provided by Dr. Tandon, Chief Minister Kalyan Singh donated funds to the Punjabi Hospital. With this financial aid, Dr. Tandon installed instruments and machines to provide microscopic eye surgery and intra-ocular lens implantation surgery, free of cost, for the first time in the area.
Dr. Tandon's work has been recognized all over Varanasi and the nearby areas. Government authorities have begun to visit the Punjabi Hospital and to provide financial aid to expand the hospital. Nobel Laureate Mother Theresa also visited the Punjabi Hospital and gave her blessing to Dr Tandon.
Thanks to Dr. Tandon's efforts, the Punjabi Hospital now has one of the most modern and well-equipped eye departments. Dr. Tandon has received numerous recognitions from various organizations and clubs, including Lions International. Focusing on helping others rather than on simply making money, Dr. Tandon devotes his time to help the needy in rural areas in India.
Marcos Prado Troyjo, Brazil
Business, Economic and Entrepreneurial Accomplishment
Marcos Troyjo was born in 1966 in Brazil. He is International President of Gazeta Mercantil, Brazil's leading economic newspaper, as well as of Jornal do Brasil, the country's most influential general interest daily. Troyjo headed the Strategic Division of Brasilinvest, Brazil's foremost merchant bank. He served as a career diplomat and was Press Secretary at the Brazilian Mission to the United Nations (UN) in New York.
He is a lecturer in the MBA Program of the University of Sao Paulo and in International Relations at the FAAP College. He joined "Leadership for the 21st Century" at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He is the author of Technology and Diplomacy (2003) and Manifesto of Business Diplomacy (2004).
When Troyjo was a diplomat, his work went beyond his representation duties. He helped organize exhibitions displaying Brazil's art and culture at the UN and contributed to strengthen the Brazil Foundation, a non-profit institution that raises funds in the US to finance social inclusion projects in Brazil. He helped to set up a United Nations Association in Brazil, a non-profit organization that aims at expanding the UN message and goals. Troyjo received the Leadership for Social Change Award by the Brazil Foundation in New York in 2001.
Troyjo sets an example for young people in Brazil. He is best described as a leader of Brazil's "business diplomacy," a concept he champions for Brazil's young in their dealings with an ever more challenging world. He is setting up a "Center for Business Diplomacy" to help develop curricula to equip young people and small and medium-sized companies with the tools to compete in international trade and investment.
More photos courtesy of JCI’s Official Photographer Junichi Kaku. . .
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