Nominations are now open for the 2025 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Youth Work. The awards recognise the invaluable contribution of young people aged 15-29 and acknowledge their achievements towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Applications close on Friday, 18 October 2024. More information about prizes, nomination criteria, and the application process is available on the Commonwealth Youth Awards website.
The last youth award winner Maya Kirti Nanan from the Caribbean, topped a list of 50 extraordinary young people who were shortlisted that year. The 2023 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year hails from Trinidad and Tobago and heads a non-profit organisation that creates opportunities for those with special needs and supports their development.
For over five decades, the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) has focused on empowering and enriching the lives of the 1.5 billion young Commonwealth citizens.
Commenting on the pivotal contributions of young people to peaceful and prosperous societies, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, said:
“Our young people are at the forefront of innovation and action, working tirelessly to transform our shared future. Their dedication and creativity are key to realising the Commonwealth’s vision of a resilient, inclusive, and resilient global community.
“The awards are a springboard for these often-overlooked heroes to be recognised on a global stage, receive needed funding and benefit from mentorship. But importantly, it is my hope that the 2025 cohort will inspire us all with their ingenuity and their determination to work towards a sustainable future for all.”
The Commonwealth Secretary-General urged other young innovators and leaders to submit their nominations for a chance to be celebrated for their contributions.
To further support young changemakers who are working to transform their local communities, the Commonwealth Foundation will provide additional Capacity Strengthening Grants to eligible applicants to help scale their projects; while the Khalili Foundation will offer additional prizes, including five Youth PEACE Awards, as a part of the Commonwealth Faith Festival initiative.
Supporting young changemakers through partnerships
The Head of Social Policy Development at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Layne Robinson, who launched the awards at the Pacific Ministries of Youth Meeting (PMYM) holding from 4-5 September 2024 in Nadi, Republic of Fiji noted:
“It is serendipitous that we are in the Pacific at this time to launch this opportunity to showcase the tangible, exciting and meaningful impacts being made in development by young people across the Commonwealth.
”These awards enable us to learn more about the work being done by young people across our 56 member states and offer us an opportunity to support them. By amplifying their work, the awards help them become beacons to others and help build the next generation of leaders.”
Under the theme ‘Cast the Net Anew: Recommitting to Youth Development in the Pacific’, the PMYM aims to set the course for future youth development initiatives and advance youth empowerment across the region.
The recognition of the role of young people in building resilient societies is also significant in the run-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October in Samoa. The 2024 CHOGM will be themed: One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth.
During CHOGM, there will be a two-day youth forum, marking the culmination of the Commonwealth Year of Youth. It will bring together youth leaders, heads of government and other stakeholders to decide on initiatives to support youth development.
