Commonwealth Secretariat
  1. CYP Home
  2. About CYP
    1. What is CYP?
    2. What is unique about CYP?
    3. How does CYP work?
    4. Meet the Team
  3. What's New
    1. CYP Pan-Commonwealth News
    2. CYP Africa News
    3. CYP Asia News
    4. CYP Caribbean
    5. CYP Pacific
    6. CYP Picture Stories
  4. What we do
    1. Youth Enterprise and Sustainable Livelihoods (YESL)
    2. Governance, Development and Youth Networks (GDYN)
    3. Youth Work Education and Training (YWET)
    4. Youth Empowerment
    5. Development Index
    6. Project Hope: Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre
    7. Young Ambassadors of Positive Living Programme
  5. Documents
    1. Intercom
    2. Commonwealth Youth Development
    3. Sixth Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting
    4. Youth Participation Toolkits
  6. Ministerial Meetings
    1. 7CYMM
    2. 6CYMM
  7. Events
  8. Regional Centres
    1. Africa
    2. Asia
    3. Caribbean
    4. Pacific
  9. Youth Caucus
    1. Africa Regional Youth Caucus
    2. Asia Regional Youth Caucus
    3. Caribbean Regional Youth Caucus
    4. Pacific Regional Youth Caucus
  10. Subscribe
    1. Subscription Confirmation
Governor General of Solomon Islands HE Sir Nathaniel Waena

Governor General of Solomon Islands HE Sir Nathaniel Waena

Solomon Islands Governor General launches award

14 March 2008

The Governor-General of Solomon Islands HE Sir Nathaniel Waena officially launches Young Solomon Islander of the Year Award

This year’s Commonwealth Day Celebration which took place on Monday 10 March 2008 was a very special occasion for the youths of Solomon Islands. The Governor-General of Solomon Islands HE Sir Nathaniel Waena officially launched The Young Solomon Islander of the Year Award. In accepting the invitation to launch the Award, Sir Waena said that "indeed, it is noteworthy to be asked to launch such a splendid initiative. The youth of our nation and the region, would view such an inspirational initiative as being a worthy challenge to the youth leadership development in Solomon Islands".

The aim of the Award, according to Sushil Ram, Programme Manager at CYP SPC, is to create a prestigious award to celebrate and recognize the greatest young achievers in the Solomon Islands. “This Award has been developed by the CYP SP Centre in line with the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment which calls on the development of award schemes for excellence in achievement in order to promote positive role models and foster young people’s self–esteem” said Mr Sushil Ram.

The award has been instituted in partnership with the Australia Youth Trust, Solomon Islands Ministry of Women, Youth & Children's Affairs and other sponsors. The Awards programme seeks to promote active citizenship by honouring and profiling outstanding young Solomon Islanders, to recognise those who have made outstanding achievements in their field, who are inspirational role models and have contributed in a significant way to Solomon Islands.

Nomination will be sought from Solomon Islands young people of excellence from all backgrounds and all fields of endeavour including community service, humanitarian, business, science and technology, arts and entertainment, sport, education and environment.

In selecting the Young Solomon Islander of the Year, regard will be given to the nominee's achievements in the year immediately prior to the receipt of the Award, as well as their past achievements and ongoing contribution to the community and to their country and who could be an inspirational role model for the Solomon Islands and the Pacific community.

The selection panels will also give consideration to the following in assessing and comparing nominations against the above criteria:

  • Personal, academic and professional achievements 
  • Contribution in the relevant field (how has the nominee ‘put back' into their field to benefit others)
  • Demonstrated leadership, innovation and creativity
  • Personal interests and community involvement
  • Contribution to the community and nation
  • Contribution to development of regional community and/or economy
  • Future goals and likely impact
  • Degree of difficulty of the achievement and sacrifices made
  • Previous awards and recognition
  • Voluntary work beyond paid employment
  • Nature and length of activity or service
  • Achievements as an individual or as part of a group or organisation
  • Availability and commitment to promote national pride and active citizenship through the year of the recipient's appointment.
  • In ensuring that the Young Solomon Islander of the Year Awards recipients are representative of our diverse region, additional consideration will be given to gender, age, remote, regional, city locations and field of endeavour.

The award will have five phases; phase one is the call for Nomination, phase two being the receipt and Processing of Nomination, phase three will be the selection by the National Selection Committee, phase four will be the National Announcement Functions, and phase five will be the Tour of Honour that the recipient will take to profile the recipient and build the recognition of the Awards through community events and publicity. The award will be given out on an annual basis. Similar award will also be instituted in the other pacific island countries later this year.

Share this page
About this