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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Youth Service Award Winners, 1996 Commonwealth Youth

24 June 1996

Five groups of young people from Britain, Canada, Malawi and Pakistan - with interests as diverse as family planning and the integration of mentally handicapped people into society - have won Commonwealth Youth Service Awards for 1996, valued at £1,000 each.

An international panel of judges (comprising the members of the Commonwealth Youth Programme's Committee of Management) met in London recently to decide on the awards which recognise outstanding community service by young people throughout the 53 member countries of the Commonwealth. The awards have been granted annually since 1985 and are sponsored by the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP).

To qualify for the awards, all projects must have been in existence for a minimum of two years and must be wholly or principally developed and administered by young men and women. In particular, judges look for the extent of youth involvement, the sustainability of the project, its originality and the extent to which it addresses a community need.

Commenting on the awards, Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku said: "I want to congratulate the winners of the 1996 Commonwealth Youth Service Awards, which are sponsored by the Commonwealth Youth Programme. I hope that the young women and men associated with these winning projects will be further encouraged by the Awards and spurred on to a yet greater contribution in expanding these projects."

Next year the scheme will be modified to allow for regional awards worth £1,000 each and three pan-Commonwealth awards, worth £3,000 each.

The winning groups for 1996 are:

"Keep Them Busy", Blantyre Young Voices of Malawi
A project run predominately by 15 to 19 year olds after school which aims to equip children and young people with the skills to be self-reliant and to help them use those skills for the benefit of their communities. Activities include making solar-energy cookers, drama, debating, sporting activities and awareness-raising. The project was initiated in response to a lack of facilities to include vocation and small-scale business training.

Contact: Mr Chimwemwe Metange, P.O. Box 30010, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi.


Promotion of Small-Family Norms among Newly Weds, Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP)

This project has opened up opportunities to discuss contraception and family planning with young newly-weds through the involvement of Nikah Registrars/Ulemas (Marriage Registrars/priests). Participants are selected by a youth committee and local FPAP volunteers. Briefing meetings are held on population issues and materials explaining the Islamic point of view of family planning. Gifts and materials on family planning and small-family norms are then distributed to the newly-weds through the Registrars. The Association says it will use the prize money to replicate the programme in other areas.

Contact: Ms Kanwal Bokharey, Family Planning Assoc. of Pakistan, 3-A, Temple Road, Lahore, Pakistan.

CHUM, Les Filanières, Canada

This group of students from Quebec provides for the social integration of seven severely mentally impaired adults into the activities of the local Cégep college and seeks to raise the student community's awareness of the problems of people with mental impairments. A companion service is provided which enables the handicapped participants to be involved in work and recreational activities five hours a day, five days a week. The group hopes to expand the project to other schools and colleges in Canada.

Contact: Mr Claude Martin, Les Filanières, 1180 Manseau Blvd, Joliette, Quebec, Canada.

Community Awareness, Ft Augustus Allied Youth, Prince Edward Island, Canada
This project was set up by a group of 12 to 18 year olds who wanted to reverse the negative image they felt the young people had in their community. Activities were undertaken in six areas: leadership training, social fitness, community aid, working with the handicapped, working with senior citizens and environmental awareness in order to show the positive contribution that young men and women can make to their communities.

Contact: Ms Sandra Landry, Charlottetown, RR#5, P.E.I., Canada.

Zebadees, Young People Cornwall, Britain
Young People Cornwall supports a network of local organisations in Cornwall including 6,000 young people and more than 500 youth workers. The Zebadees project is a venue owned and managed by young people which provides an attractive and welcome meeting place with information, activities and entertainment on health related themes. The project hopes to encourage wider use of the venue by young people with special needs.

Contact: Ms Nicky Davey, Young People Cornwall, The Old School, Daniell Road, Truro, Britain.

Issued by the Information and Public Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat,
Marlborough House,
Pall Mall,
London SW1Y 5HX,
United Kingdom.
Tel: 0207-839 3411;
Fax: 0207-839 9081;
Telex: 27678

96/27 24 June 1996

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