Nominations open for the Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work 2015

Do you know of a young person making a positive difference to the lives of other people in your community or country?

Award winners 2013

The Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) is inviting nominations for the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.

‘More than any generation in history, today’s young people are shaping the social, economic and political landscape that they will inherit. This is an exciting opportunity to recognise their energy, talent and commitment to development across the 53-nation Commonwealth.’ Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General

We are looking for young people aged between 15 and 29 years, whose development work demonstrates the Commonwealth’s Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment, to:

1. Promote youth participation in decision making
2. Promote economic empowerment of young people
3. Take action for equality between young women and young men
4. Promote peaceful and democratic environment in which human rights flourish
5. Provide quality education for all
6. Improve access to information and communication technology
7. Promote health, development and values through sport and culture
8. Engage young people to protect the environment

There will be four prizes per Commonwealth region (see page 7) with the top entry from each receiving the Regional Commonwealth Award. From among the four Regional Award winners an overall Pan-Commonwealth winner will be decided

Criteria for nomination:

• The nominee must have been engaged in their development work for more than 12 months either in a professional or voluntary capacity
• The development work must be ongoing and in a Commonwealth member country
• The nominee should not be older than 29 on 31 December 2015
• Individuals cannot nominate themselves
• Nominees should give permission for their names to be put forward
• The winner must agree to take part in publicity and activities generated by the Commonwealth

Awards will be decided on the basis of:

1. Quality of impact
2. Level of innovation/fresh approaches to problem-solving
3. Quality of achievement
4. Quality of the evidence provided
5. Sustainability: building capacity of future generations to meet their own needs

Nomination process:
Applications open on 30 August 2014 and close on 30 October 2014. To complete the nomination form please visit: www.yourcommonwealth.org/cya2015

You will be required to provide:

• Details about yourself
• Details about the person you are nominating
• The reasons you think the nominee deserves to win
• A description of the development work and how it makes a positive difference to the lives of others

For more information please contact:
The Co-ordinator Commonwealth Youth Awards
Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House
Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5HX, United Kingdom
Email: cya2015@commonwealth.int