Young Pacific woman named in Commonwealth Youth Awards [1]
Monday, March 16, 2015 - 17:57
A Pacific Islander was one of four young people who were honoured at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work, in London on 10 March.
Samoan Brianna Frueann (16) who was named the Pacific Region’s Commonwealth Youth Award winner became the youngest recipient of the award.
The awards are aimed for young people aged 29 or under from Commonwealth countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Caribbean and Americas whose work has had a significant impact on people and communities in their country or region.
Recognition
Julius Shirima (25) from Tanzania who was the winner of the overall pan-Commonwealth Youth Award 2015 received $5,000 cash prize,
He founded ‘Darecha’ a micro-venture capital fund company and entrepreneur network that helps young businesspeople turn enterprising concepts into profitable ventures.
The other three who who were Regional Winners each received $3,000 to reinvest in their development work, included Gulalai Ismael (28) from Pakistan who won for the Asia region. At 16 she set up ‘Aware Girls’ that provides young women with a platform to learn and advocate. She was also a recipient of the 2014 International Humanist Award.
The Pacific winner, Brianna Frueann, four years ago founded ‘Small Voices’ an environmental NGO that carries out climate change and environment related projects. She is also the leader of an environmental group ‘Future Rush’ that mobilises young people to run sustainable development projects for their communities.
Nolana Lynch (27) from Trinidad and Tobago won the Caribbean and Americas Commonwealth Award. She set up an eco-friendly skin and hair care line ‘Eco-Truffles’, which uses sustainable raw materials from rural women producers from throughout the Caribbean. She also spearheaded sustainable agricultural projects in several Caribbean countries.