UK’s National Youth Agency

The Commonwealth is pleased to announce the finalists for the Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2014, which recognise the contribution of youth workers and their enduring positive impact on young people and local communities.

Twelve youth workers from countries as diverse as Ghana, India, Jamaica and Malaysia have been selected as regional finalists. Winners will be announced on 5 November, during Commonwealth Youth Work Week, at a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament in London.

The Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of outstanding youth workers from across the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 53 countries.

The judging panel for the awards included representatives of the Commonwealth Secretariat, youth professionals and young people. One winner will be selected from each region, and one of the regional winners will be declared Commonwealth Youth Worker of the Year 2014.

Youth Work Week takes place from 3 to 9 November 2014. This pan-Commonwealth celebration of youth work was established by the Commonwealth in partnership with the UK’s National Youth Agency. This year, the theme is ‘Youth empowerment through soft skills’.

Africa:

Ghana – Peter Akai Anum, National Director, Head of State Awards
Kenya – Abdikadir Aden Hassan, Chief Executive, Youth for Environmental Sustainability Network
South Africa – Bernice Hlagala, Social Worker and Senior Policy Analyst, The Presidency / University of Venda
Uganda – Dan Boston, Founder and Managing Director, R.A.I.S.E

Asia:

India – Pravin Nikam, Founder, ROSHNI Youth Organization
India – Aprajita Pandey, Haiyya: Organize for Action
Malaysia – Raj Ridvan Singh, Co-Founder/Social Entrepreneur, SOLS 24/7
Sri Lanka – Witharanage Sachinda Dulanjana, Founder, H3 Foundation (Hearts & Hands of Humanity)

Caribbean:

Jamaica – Takisha Sten-Barnes, Head of Agency, National Centre for Youth Development, Ministry of Youth and Culture
Montserrat – Loni Howe, Youth Officer, Ministry of Education & Youth Affairs
Trinidad & Tobago – Steven Edwards, Founder, Executive Chairman and Creative Director, Transformation Through Theatre and Technology
Trinidad & Tobago – Derrick Sharbodie, Founder and Manager for St James Police Youth Club

For More Information: thecommonwealth.org/our-work/youth

Application Deadline: August 30 2014
Nominations are now open for the Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2014, which recognise the excellence of youth workers and their enduring positive impact on young people and local communities.

The Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of those at the cutting edge of youth work. The international recognition that flows from these awards allows the winners to act as champions for their profession and inspire many others who work with young people.

The international theme for Youth Work Week 2014 is ‘Youth Empowerment though Soft Skills’. Soft skills are the competences which enable people to interact effectively and think creatively, such as: team-work, self-confidence and resilience.

Selection

Entries close on 30 August 2014, after which a total of 16 finalists will be shortlisted from four Commonwealth regions: Africa and Europe, Asia, Americas and Caribbean, and Pacific.

A winner will be selected from each region, and invited to a presentation at the House of Commons, London, United Kingdom, during Youth Work Week in early November 2014.
During the presentation, one of the regional winners will be declared Commonwealth Youth Worker of the Year 2014. Entries will be scrutinised by a panel of judges including representatives of the Commonwealth Youth Programme and young people.

Youth Work Week, organised by the Commonwealth Youth Programme in partnership with the UK’s National Youth Agency, celebrates the contribution and achievements of youth work, youth workers, and youth organisations throughout the Commonwealth.

Nominations process

Nominate a youth worker by completing the official form,. Completed forms should be emailed to [email protected] by 30 August 2014.

Nominations will be assessed according to:

Impact on young people’s lives – evidence of how the youth worker has made an impact on the lives of young people
Impact of youth work skills – evidence to show that it was their use of youth work skills that made the difference in the work with young people
Impact on the wider community – the impact the youth worker’s intervention had on the community and families
Challenges in delivery – how the applicant overcame challenges in delivering their work with young people.

Download the Nomination Form for the Commonwealth Youth Worker Award 2014

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2014

Nominations process

Nominate a youth worker by completing the official form, available as a download on this webpage. Completed forms should be emailed to [email protected] by 30 August 2014.

Nominations will be assessed according to:

Impact on young people’s lives – evidence of how the youth worker has made an impact on the lives of young people
Impact of youth work skills – evidence to show that it was their use of youth work skills that made the difference in the work with young people
Impact on the wider community – the impact the youth worker’s intervention had on the community and families
Challenges in delivery – how the applicant overcame challenges in delivering their work with young people.

– See more at: http://thecommonwealth.org/node/4654#sthash.GXUDrmUN.dpuf

Entries close on 30 August 2014, after which a total of 16 finalists will be shortlisted from four Commonwealth regions: Africa and Europe, Asia, Americas and Caribbean, and Pacific. A winner will be selected from each region, and invited to a presentation at the House of Commons, London, United Kingdom, during Youth Work Week in early November 2014.

During the presentation, one of the regional winners will be declared Commonwealth Youth Worker of the Year 2014. Entries will be scrutinised by a panel of judges including representatives of the Commonwealth Youth Programme and young people.

Youth Work Week, organised by the Commonwealth Youth Programme in partnership with the UK’s National Youth Agency, celebrates the contribution and achievements of youth work, youth workers, and youth organisations throughout the Commonwealth.

The international theme for Youth Work Week 2014 is ‘Youth Empowerment though Soft Skills’. Soft skills are the competences which enable people to interact effectively and think creatively, such as: team-work, self-confidence and resilience.

– See more at: http://thecommonwealth.org/node/4654#sthash.GXUDrmUN.dpuf

Recognising the exceptional contribution of youth workers throughout the Commonwealth

Nominations are open for the Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2014, which recognise the excellence of youth workers and their enduring positive impact on young people and local communities.

– See more at: http://thecommonwealth.org/node/4654#sthash.GXUDrmUN.dpuf

Recognising the exceptional contribution of youth workers throughout the Commonwealth

Nominations are open for the Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2014, which recognise the excellence of youth workers and their enduring positive impact on young people and local communities.

– See more at: http://thecommonwealth.org/node/4654#sthash.GXUDrmUN.dpuf

Finalists for the 2014 Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards Announced

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Recognising the exceptional contribution of youth workers throughout the Commonwealth

Recognising the exceptional contribution of youth workers throughout the Commonwealth