Youth Work Week

Three outstanding youth workers were honoured at the Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2014 for their dedication to improving young lives and their positive contributions to society.

The awards were presented to winners from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean at a ceremony hosted at the UK Houses of Parliament, in London. The awards are held annually during Youth Work Week, which is celebrated across the 53 nations of the Commonwealth.

The recipient of the overall Commonwealth Youth Worker of the Year 2014 award is Dr Bernice Hlagala, a senior policy analyst responsible for youth development in the Presidency of South Africa. She is also Regional Winner for Africa.

Presenting the awards, Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma said: “The Commonwealth has long championed the important work of youth workers and their contribution to the prospects and development of young people and their nations, as well as to advancing youth work as a professional and respected field.

“The Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards give recognition to outstanding individuals within this profession and we are delighted, for the third year running, to have very worthy winners.”

The awards ceremony, held in association with the National Youth Agency (UK), was hosted by Karen Buck, MP for Westminster North in the United Kingdom and UK Minister for Civil Society Rob Wilson. During the awards ceremony, the winners of the UK Youth Worker Awards, hosted by the National Youth Agency, were also announced.

Find out more about the work of the finalists and winners of the Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2014 on the Commonwealth website: http://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/finalists-commonwealth-youth-worker-awards-announced

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

Winners of the 2014 Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards Announced

Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2014: Call for Entries

Recognising the exceptional contribution of youth workers throughout the Commonwealth

Recognising the exceptional contribution of youth workers throughout the Commonwealth