Just a few months ago, the Sophia NGO Network Initiative held its inaugural Sophia Community Awards for Service and Excellence.
The award ceremony is a derivative of the consolidation of efforts by several Non-Governmental Organizations in the community. It seeks to recognise outstanding performances, as well as significant activism and advocacy aimed at advancing the human and physical development of Sophia. Among the areas for which persons can be nominated and awarded are education, environment, health, sports, business, arts & culture, and innovation.

The Pepperpot Magazine spoke with one of the recipients of the award Marcia Kato, who won the award for her work in environmental science.
Kato is known for connecting Government officials and residents should a problem arise in the area, particularly concerning environmental issues. Kato ‘s primary responsibility is to ensure that the environment is safe, the community’s drainage is okay and bridges and roads in the area are well-kept and properly maintained for the usage of residents in the community.
Kato shared with Pepperpot that being a member of the Community Policing Group, she was still integrally involved in ensuring that the community is developed.
Meanwhile, another member of the group, Sandra King, received an award for her role in the arts and culture.

When she spoke with the Pepperpot Magazine, she indicated during her interview that she is a well-respected person in her community and that she would often assist the youths in other parts of the community, including where she lives, as well as in their school concerts and youth programme. King believes in communication, togetherness, and love for each other as children in her community.
While emphasising the fact that she has a passion for children, King could not help but state that she would often find herself encouraging, advising, and mentoring children to walk in the right way and steps.
The Sophia NGO Network believes that the selection of awardees is based on a majority decision of the Award committee tasked with reviewing submissions to ensure that the established benchmarks are met. The committee, in the form of the adjudicating panel, comprises outstanding professionals in the areas of audit, business, media, law, broadcasting, entertainment, and education.

The criteria for nominations require the nominees to demonstrate a positive impact on the lives of residents of Sophia, particularly remarkable and inspiring individuals, who demonstrate vision, leadership, and innovation in delivering community change, and whose actions and outlook contribute to the upliftment of others.”
The award is presented biennially. A person may be nominated for an award if he or she has been volunteering or serving the Sophia community for at least two years.
Nelson shared, ““Through our work, we have interacted with many persons who inspire others in the community because of their selflessness and willingness to serve. The issues that we face today transcend boundaries, and it is against this backdrop that we collectively seek to break barriers and build bridges.”

Awards ceremonies for the community of Sophia also serve as a boost to erase the negativity and demoralising imagery of the Sophia community, according to the Sophia NGO Network.
Since the emergence of the community of Sophia, there has been a great effort by this non–governmental organisation to engage particularly young people in activities that would uplift their image of themselves and reduce the number of criminal activities.