The Commonwealth calls for Youth Awards 2020 which will see the winners award a cash grant to scale-up the developmental work benefitting their community.

The Commonwealth Youth Awards recognize the exemplary work undertaken by young people across the 53 member countries. The awards launch coincides with the Commonwealth Asia Region Senior Officials From Youth Ministries Meeting – an event which will allow participants to assess progress on agreed youth policy priorities and finalize a regional strategy aimed at improving the wellbeing and livelihoods of Commonwealth young people.

Moreover, the Commonwealth Foundation will invite regional winners to an awards ceremony in London on Commonwealth Day 2020. The partnership among the Commonwealth Youth Council and the Commonwealth Youth Networks has made this award possible.

Commonwealth Youth Awards 2020

The jury of the Commonwealth Award will shortlist sixteen finalists from four Commonwealth regional categories: Africa and Europe; Asia; the Caribbean and Canada; and the Pacific. Further, the jury will select a winner from each region, and one exceptional entrant will receive the honor of Commonwealth Young Person of the Year. The regional and overall winners will receive an invitation to join the Commonwealth Asia Region Senior Officials From Youth Ministries Meeting in London, where the award will be distributed.

This year’s finalists will receive a trophy, a certificate and cash grants to help them continue their development work. Moreover, all finalists will receive an award of £1,000. Further, each selected regional winner will receive an additional £2,000. The Commonwealth Young Person of the Year will also receive an additional cash grant of £2,000.

Eligibility for the Commonwealth Youth Awards

A Commonwealth Youth Award nominee must have a profile that aligns with the award’s criteria. Moreover, the nominee must be:

• Aged 15 to 29 years;
• A citizen of a Commonwealth member country;
• Engaged in development work for more than 12 months – either in a professional or voluntary capacity;
• Have a strong track record of implementing innovative ideas and linking their development work and its impact on one of the 17 SDGs;
• Also, have demonstrated an understanding of the importance of youth engagement in key areas of development.

How to apply for the Commonwealth Youth Awards?

A non-relative professional who is well aware of the award candidate’s contribution to the community may nominate the candidate. Also, the candidate can self-nominate themselves for the Commonwealth Youth Awards. Moreover, the nomination process is online, thus, the nominator must complete the process before the deadline.

Deadline

The deadline to apply for the 2020 Commonwealth Youth Awards is 23:59, 31 October 2019. Applications arriving after the deadline are not eligible for the award.