In March 2025, a group of extraordinary young people will have the opportunity to receive support from the Commonwealth Secretariat. They will be chosen as the 20 finalists for the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.
Known as the Commonwealth Youth Awards, it highlights young people who spearhead impactful, sustainable development initiatives in their communities. This year’s winners will be announced during a glittering ceremony on Wednesday, 12 March 2025.
For over a decade, the Commonwealth Youth Awards has provided a platform for young people to utilise international networks and access funding to support their projects.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, highlighted the importance of the awards, stating:
“The world is facing unprecedented challenges. One way to ensure the work we are doing now is sustained is to recognise and support the very people who can take it forward into the future. The Commonwealth Youth Awards celebrate the remarkable contributions made by our exemplary young people are the champions of values enshrined in our Charter. I am also incredibly grateful for those who see the value in our work and partner with us to help these young people to flourish.”
Leveraging the power of partnerships
Partnerships with like-minded organisations help to fuel the work of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Commonwealth Youth Awards is one such collaborative initiative. This year, the Khalili Foundation and the Commonwealth Foundation have partnered to amplify the finalists’ work across continents and help to scale-up their success.
Recognising the role that young people play in promoting peace, the Executive Director of the Khalili Foundation, Waqas Ahmed, said:
“The Khalili Foundation supports and drives internationally recognised projects that promote interfaith and intercultural relations, particularly among young people. Our partnership with the Commonwealth aims to invest in youth by equipping them with the skills and support necessary to foster peace in their communities through actions that encourage constructive dialogue and mutual understanding.”
The Commonwealth Foundation is supporting the awards as part of its mandate to nurture the growth of vibrant and free civil societies in all 56 member countries.
Shem Ochola, Deputy Director General at the Commonwealth Foundation, added:
“The Commonwealth Foundation plays a unique role as an intergovernmental agency for civil society and is proud to support Commonwealth youth in harnessing their intellectual capacity to design and implement innovative projects that address the key development challenges of our time. We celebrate these young leaders who exemplify the values of the Commonwealth, as reflected in the Charter, and who are shaping both our present and future through their knowledge-driven initiatives”.
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The 2025 Commonwealth Youth Awards
Twenty finalists will be chosen in February, and on 12 March 2025, five regional winners will be chosen. Thanks to the support of our partners, each of those 20 finalists will receive a £1,000 grant, a trophy and a certificate. The five regional winners will receive an additional £2,000.
One of the 20 finalists will go on to be awarded the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year. They will receive an additional £2,000 and opportunities to network with leaders, represent the Commonwealth’s young people at high-level forums and receive mentorship and training to advance their work.
The Khalili Foundation will present five PEACE awards to young people working in peace and development. Each awardee will receive 2,000 pounds in recognition of work that demonstrates significant advances in promoting a more peaceful and equitable world.
The Commonwealth Foundation shall also provide up to £30,000 in funding to support the awards. In the past, the Commonwealth Youth Awards have also been supported by the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.
This initiative of the Commonwealth Youth Programme has helped to showcase the brilliance of young leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, and the Americas. Their ability to carry out their development work has been enhanced by flexible funding, practical tools, mentorship, and a vibrant network that empowers them to continue to transform their communities.
Media contact
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Ijeoma Onyeator Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
