Seven black finalists on track to win Commonwealth award

Finalists Achare Elvis Ayamba (TL) Joy Egbe, (B-L) Rianna Patterson (T-R)Franc Kamugyisha, Sylivia Kyomuhendo (C) and Mickel Alexander (B-R)

ASPIRING YOUNG people from across Africa and the Caribbean have been named as finalists in the Commonwealth Youth Awards 2022.

Out of 20 extraordinary young people making strides as investors, activists and entrepreneurs, seven of those shortlisted are black after more than 1000 entries were received this year.

Application submitted this year alone was the highest on record and cover other regional categories such as Asia, Europe & Canada and the Pacific.

The highly-anticipated awards, put together by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, aims to recognise young people of the Commonwealth between the ages of 15 and 29 years-old whose projects are transforming lives in their communities around the world.

The coveted awards also looks to honour people who are providing practical solutions to complex problems and helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda.

Patricia Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary-Genera, praised the efforts of the young people involved in making change in a difficult year.

“Every year I am blown away by our youth award winners’ talent, resilience, dedication, and tenacity. This year, we recognise the skill, imagination and dedication of young people in the face of the immense challenges created during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

“And at COP26 in Glasgow, I was very impressed to see former youth awards finalists such as Brianna Fruean and Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti leading vital conversations about climate change. It reminded me of the importance of continuing to put the efforts of our amazing young people in the global spotlight.”

Achare Elvis Ayamba, from Cameroon, Joy Egbe from Nigeria and Ugandians Franc Kamugyisha and Sylivia Kyomuhendo all qualified for the final round in their work fighting against the climate crisis in the global south.

Mr Ayamba is the founder of the “Environment and Food Foundation,” which promotes sustainable conservation, protection and restoration management of marine and freshwater ecosystems, mangroves, and oceans; while Ms Egbe runs a clean tech start-up providing zero emissions energy to low-income households throughout Nigeria.

The Founder and Director of the ‘Infants Health Foundation’, Ms Kamugyisha leads a grassroots organisation breaking down barriers to access healthcare through free motorcycle mobile clinics and essential maternal treatment.

Specialising in recycle-able material, Mr Franc’s project turns consumer plastic and glass waste into long-lasting plastic timbers, roofing tiles and biodegradable facemasks and shields.

In the Caribbean shortlist, Mickel Alexander – from Trinidad and Tobago – runs a youth-led non-profit organisation on his homeland to meet the educate and support the needs of young people through arts-based tours, campaigns, poetry and spoken word.

Dominican Rianna Patterson similarly works with young people in her work with her dementia charity that aims to raise awareness of the disease and provide emotional support to families and caretakers, while facilitating ongoing research.

Sasha Middleton represents Antigua and Barbuda through her project to actively fundraise and work with multi-sectoral partners to support the protection and recovery of the Caribbean island during the evolving climate crisis.

Next month, a top finalist from each region is expected to be announced via a virtual ceremony and live-streamed on the Commonwealth’s social platforms.

Despite there being only one top place, all 20 candidates shortlisted will each receive a trophy, certificate and £1,000 to expand the work of their projects.

Each regional winner will receive £3,000 and the overall pan-Commonwealth winner will take home a total of £5,000.

To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer, the Commonwealth Secretariat has partnered with the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT) to offer an additional prize of £40,000 in funding to one project which will be delivered over the course of two years.

The winner can also expect to be enrolled onto QCT’s Platinum Jubilee Fund programme and provided with coaching and development opportunities to aid the advancement of their work in their communities.

Ms Scotland went on to praise the work of young people like Fruean and Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti, leading vital conversations about climate change at COP26 in November last year ahead of the final.

She added: “Sixty per cent of the 2.5 billion people in the Commonwealth are under the age of 30 and the Commonwealth Charter makes clear the active role and contributions of young people in advancing the values that bind our family of nations together.

“I am delighted to recognise a new cohort of young innovators and change-makers as we pull together to realise the Commonwealth’s shared goal of a peaceful and prosperous future for all.

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