Ryan Robinson Shortlisted as Regional Finalist in Commonwealth Youth Awards For Execellence

News Release: Future Leaders of Bermuda – On 8 February 2019, the Commonwealth Secretariat announced that Ryan Robinson Perinchief has been shortlisted as a Regional Finalist, one of four representing the Caribbean & Canada for the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work 2019.

Entrepreneurs, innovators and social activists are among the 16 high-achieving finalists chosen by a Pan-Commonwealth adjudication panel of judges, convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat. This included the High Commissioners for Barbados, Namibia and Papua New Guinea, and representatives from the High Commission of Bangladesh, the Commonwealth Foundation and the Commonwealth Youth Council.

The Awards recognize and celebrate the achievements of people aged 15 to 29 whose innovative projects are making a significant contribution to their communities and driving change in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Since their inception, the Youth Awards have helped raise awareness of the work of hundreds of young people, and to scale up their projects to make a bigger impact in their societies, nations and the globe at large.

This year, the Awards attracted five hundred nominations from 45 countries. Those shortlisted will be invited to attend the Commonwealth Youth Awards ceremony in London on 13 March 2019 at the Commonwealth Secretariat Headquarters. One exceptional individual will be chosen as the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2019. In addition to a financial grant to scale up their development work, finalists will each be awarded a trophy and certificate.

This is the first time a Bermudian has been selected, as the Commonwealth has confirmed that there has never been a regional finalist or regional winner from Bermuda in the past for the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.

The Commonwealth news release can be found here:

http://www.thecommonwealth.org/media/news/2019-commonwealth-youth-awards-finalists-announced

The next stage of adjudication requires finalists to submit a brief bio along with a video highlighting their organization and development work, and a one page summary of its impact in their community.

A copy of this information can be found in the attached document for your convenience.

Additionally, upon request by the Commonwealth, and to commemorate the event, Future Leaders Bermuda has released the following short film, highlighting the work of the Future Leaders Programme.