AYV News, March 12, 2025
Today, 12th March, government ministers and senior officials, high commissioners, youth leaders and youth stakeholders across the Commonwealth will attend the 2025 Commonwealth Youth Award for Excellence in Development ceremony.
Twenty extraordinary young individuals, including social entrepreneurs, climate advocates, innovators, and community health champions from across the Commonwealth, have been shortlisted for the 2025 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.
The top regional winners and the much-anticipated Commonwealth Young Person of the Year will be announced at a special ceremony on 12 March 2025, hosted by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC. You can watch the livestream on YouTube and Facebook.
The awards recognise the invaluable contribution of young people aged 15-29 and acknowledge their achievements towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 2025 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year will be chosen, along with five Young Peace Prize awardees. The peace prizes are supported by the Khalili Foundation.
The Commonwealth Foundation has also partnered to amplify the finalists’ work across continents and help to scale up their success. The awards are one of the main events commemorating Commonwealth Day in London, which includes a vibrant multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey that will celebrate the diversity and unity of the Commonwealth.
This year, the adjudication process garnered an overwhelming response. Over 800 applications were carefully reviewed by a panel of 54 Pan-Commonwealth adjudicators, and from an initial shortlist of 31, the 20 finalists were selected.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, congratulated the 20 finalists who represent every region of the Commonwealth, said: “Our young people have shown genuine innovation and commitment in striving to make the Commonwealth fairer, more secure, more sustainable, and more prosperous. Their projects demonstrate the great potential of 1.7 billion young people across the Commonwealth. We are delighted to recognise, nurture, and support them by offering platforms like the Youth Awards to showcase their potential to the world.”
The awards are one of the ways in which the Commonwealth Secretariat works to empower, engage and encourage as well as amplify the voices and work of youth across the 56 member states.
The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Head of Social Policy Development, Layne Robinson, said: “The Commonwealth continues to celebrate young people as valuable assets to society—problem solvers addressing global challenges with creativity and courage. While we honour this year’s winners, we acknowledge over 800 applicants who, although they may not receive the top prizes, are making a real difference in their communities.”
