60 young men and women from various Commonwealth countries will be awarded by the Queen as part of a new Young Leaders Award, launched this year.
The award, started by the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Trust, recognises the contributions of 18-29 year olds from 35 Commonwealth countries. As part of their prize, winners will be able to meet the Queen and Prime Minister David Cameron and take part in a 2 day leadership course in Cambridge. They will also be given a mentor for a year and will be able to take a distance learning course to help them to develop their leadership skills.
The award, which is also in partnership with Comic Relief and the Royal Common Wealth Society, had thousands of applications this year and will run for a period of 4 years.
Nearly half of this year’s winners hail from the African continent, including Sierra Leonean charity owner Phillip Cole, who after studying in the UK returned to Sierra Leone to help child soldiers and later, victims of the Ebola crisis. A young Tanzanian named Angela Benedicto Mnagoza who helps exploited child workers in Tanzania and Nigerian sickle cell campaigner Nkechikwu Azinge, who set up the Sickle Cell Aid Foundation, were also awarded.
Speaking on behalf of the partnership, Sir John Major, Chairman of the Trust said: “We wish to identify and nurture the talent of the younger generation across the Commonwealth. We’re inspired by the belief that one talented individual can be a positive force for good within their communities.
“This programme will celebrate the achievements of these extraordinary individuals and help develop their skills, thus creating a lasting legacy – benefiting the whole of the Commonwealth – to honour the long and successful reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II.”
