On August 12, 2025, International Youth Day, the Commonwealth Secretariat officially announced the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work. The awards, which are presented by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, honor young leaders from 56 Commonwealth member nations, ages 15 to 29, who are spearheading sustainable, effective projects that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The deadline for nominations is October 17, 2025, at 23:59 GMT. Nominees must be Commonwealth citizens who have been working on development projects in a Commonwealth nation for a minimum of 12 months. The honors honor accomplishments in fields such as peacebuilding, education, environmental preservation, and human rights.
Four finalists are chosen from each of the following regions: Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe/Canada, and the Pacific. Regional winners receive £3,000, and the Pan-Commonwealth Winner, who is also known as the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year, receives £5,000 in addition to trophies and certificates. The winners will be revealed in March 2026, during Commonwealth Week.
You can nominate yourself or an inspiring young changemaker before 17 October here: Commonwealth Youth Awards
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