We were deeply honoured to be invited by the Kingdom of Bahrain to mark the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICT in Education—a global recognition that celebrates innovation, inclusivity, and impact in the field of learning.
Hosted at the University of Bahrain, the grand celebration brought together leaders, visionaries, and changemakers from around the world. The event was graced by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, and distinguished ministers from across the Gulf region.
Among this remarkable gathering stood Korvi Rakshand, Founder and Executive Director of JAAGO Foundation, proudly representing Bangladesh as the only laureate from the country in the award’s two-decade history.
A Moment of Pride for Bangladesh
In 2016, JAAGO Foundation was honoured with the UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Education. The award was presented to Korvi Rakshand by then UNESCO Director-General Ms. Irina Bokova at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, marking the first-ever recognition of a Bangladeshi organization by UNESCO.
The award acknowledged JAAGO’s pioneering work in using technology to bridge the education gap for underprivileged children, proving that innovation and compassion can together rewrite the story of access to learning.
Reflecting on that milestone, Korvi Rakshand shared at the anniversary celebration:
We felt that the world was finally listening to us. Winning the prize made our dream of educating underprivileged children a reality and opened doors to international support that were previously unavailable.
Two Decades of Global Innovation in Education
The 20-year celebration was more than an anniversary; it was a reunion of dreamers who turned ideas into impact. Laureates from across continents came together to reflect on how the award has inspired innovation and shaped lives.
From South Korea, Dr. Dae Joon Hwang, winner of the first edition in 2006 for Cyber Home Learning System, shared:
Winning the prize completely changed our path. It opened doors for collaboration with international institutions and proved that e-learning can be a genuine alternative to traditional education.
From Egypt, Dr. Hoda Baraka, laureate of 2008 for the initiative Digital Opportunities for All: Preparing Students for 21st Century Skills, said:
To be Arab and win a prize that bears the name of His Majesty the King of Bahrain means that the Arab world has a strong presence in the digital transformation journey. Winning gave us renewed confidence to continue and made us a model for others in the region.
Eduardo Monge from Costa Rica, whose organisation, Omar Dengo Foundation, won in 2015, added:
For us, the prize was more than a badge of honour. It was a gateway to empowering education in rural areas that had never experienced technology before.” He emphasised that the recognition “proved that digital education is not a luxury, but a fundamental right for every child.
From India, which was honoured in 2017 for the Connected Learning Initiative (CLIx) by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Sourav Mohanty stated:
This award gave us not only recognition but also showed that innovation can be born in public schools. It was a moment of acknowledgement that change begins in small classrooms.
Meanwhile, from Morocco, which shared the same year’s award for the GENIE Project, Ilham Laziz said:
The prize confirmed that investing in people before technology makes the true difference. It made us realise that we are part of a global movement to reform education from within.
The conversation continued with Luke Stannard from War Child (Netherlands), winner of the 2018 award for the project Can’t Wait to Learn, who said:
Winning the prize was like giving a voice to the children of war. It gave us a platform to tell the world that education can continue even amid destruction.
He added,
The international recognition strengthened our credibility and helped us reach thousands of children in conflict zones.
Ms. Renata Grando from Brazil, who won the award in 2019, representing Letrus, which developed an AI-based program to improve writing skills, said:
Winning confirmed that artificial intelligence can serve human values when directed toward education.
By 2021, as the pandemic swept the globe, the award continued to inspire creativity. Dr. Abhay Kumar from CIET-NCERT (India) said:
The prize came as recognition of a national effort during a time of crisis, when we were fighting to keep education going through radio, television, and digital applications.
Ms. Mwasi Wilmore from Ubongo (Tanzania) spoke warmly:
The honour was for every African child learning from a radio or TV in their small village. The award gave us renewed energy to prove that learning is possible anywhere.
At the most recent edition, 2023, Minchul Shin from South Korea spoke about the project Connecting the Dots: Data-Driven Carbon Literacy:
Winning this award made us believe that environmental education cannot be separated from technology. We connected science to daily life and helped children understand how their actions impact the planet.
From Belgium, Sarah Descamps, a researcher from EducoNetImpact, said:
The award was a moment of global awareness. We are not just teaching how to use technology, but how to use it wisely to protect the environment.
Bridging the World Through Education
As the laureates reflected on the award’s international significance, a shared message echoed through the room:
The UNESCO–King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize is more than a recognition; it is a bridge between North and South, East and West, uniting developed and developing nations in a shared commitment to human-centred education.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
For JAAGO Foundation, this celebration was not just a moment to look back, but a renewed call to look ahead. The award remains a powerful reminder of how far Bangladesh has come in reimagining education for all and how much more can be achieved when innovation serves humanity.
With deep gratitude to UNESCO, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and every organisation that continues to transform lives through learning, JAAGO stands inspired to continue its mission: to ensure every child, regardless of background, has access to quality education, skills and the opportunity to dream beyond boundaries.