Joshua Savieti from Tonga among nominees for 2016 Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards Featured
Joshua Savieti from Tonga is the co-founder of ICON Creative Tonga
2 November, 2016. TWO Pacific islanders are among youth work professionals from 14 countries who have been named as the Finalists of the 2016 Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards.
This year’s shortlist showcases leading youth workers who use sport and creative arts to inspire and support the development of underprivileged adolescents and young adults.
Australia, Belize, Fiji, Guyana, Jamaica, India, Kenya, Malta, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Tonga and the United Kingdom are all represented in this year’s awards.
Fijian Alzima Bano is the founder of ACT: Fj, a youth-led NGO that empowers its peers through drama, poetry and story-telling to become youth advocates on social and development issues. Last year she was a recipient of a Young Leaders Award, presented by Queen Elizbeth II.
Joshua Savieti from Tonga is the co-founder of ICON Creative Tonga, an NGO which uses dance and music to engage disaffected youth and promote the development of their leadership and artistic skills.
The Commonwealth Youth Worker of the Year 2016 will be named during Youth Work Week, from November 7-13.
As part of an awards ceremony on 10 November, Commonwealth Youth Workers of the Year for Africa, Asia, Europe, Pacific, and Caribbean and Americas regions will also be announced from among the Finalists. Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will present the awards.
All the finalists have founded or manage projects related to sport and the arts. Among them is the director of a theatre programme for LGBTI young people, as well as the founder of the first national para-climbing club in Pakistan.
Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Deodat Maharaj said if the Sustainable Development Goals and end poverty and inequality are to be achieved, young people have an important role to play, as do youth work professionals who offer vital support and encouragement.
“This year’s awards celebrate outstanding youth workers who use sport and the arts to engage young people and help them to express and promote their identities and talents. Their efforts contribute to the health, education, gender equality and social cohesion of communities and nations,” he said.
The theme for Youth Work Week 2016 is ‘Empowering young people through sport and arts’, acknowledging the creative and innovative techniques that youth workers employ to deliver effective youth empowerment programmes.
The Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards recognise youth workers who are instrumental to the positive development of young people. Youth workers can be found in a broad range of civil society and voluntary organisations as well as government ministries and youth departments.
-Pasifik News
