Traditionally, the Commonwealth Youth Awards names 20 people on the shortlist each year, from which five regional winners from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and Canada, and the Pacific are chosen. However, 2023 marks a substantial increase to 50 people, including four inspiring young Indians, on the shortlist to celebrate 50 years of the Commonwealth Youth Programme.
Aged between 15 to 29, all four are involved in initiatives that make tangible contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from Climate Action and Gender Equality to Sustainable Cities and Communities and Quality Education.
Baroness Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General, said: “Each year, I am always amazed by the innovative and transformative work these young people are undertaking to create a better world for us all.
“I am particularly proud that 50 young leaders are being honoured in this Commonwealth Year of the Youth. I have always been of the view that development should be youth-led. Those who have been shortlisted prove that young people are not just passive bystanders, waiting to see what the future will bring. Instead, they are actively shaping it.”
Akshay Makar (SDG 13 – Climate Action) is a driven and passionate Entrepreneur who is determined to make a difference in the world. As the CEO of Climatenza Solar, a mission-focused company that is working to decarbonise the industrial sector, he is leading the charge towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future. Under Akshay’s leadership, the company is working with leading Global companies like Coca-Cola, Tata Group and Unilever to decarbonise their Industrial Heat where they are implementing 23MW to cut 37,430 tons of carbon emissions. Over the next five years, he aims to manufacture 273 MW capacity that will save over 650,000 tons of carbon emissions.
Soumya Dabriwal (SDG 5 – Gender Equality) is a development practitioner and an Economics Graduate from the University of Warwick. While volunteering in Ghana, she observed girls skipping school 3 days/month during their periods and using unsafe menstrual protection. Understanding that this is a global phenomenon gave birth to Project Baala. This initiative delivers innovative menstrual hygiene solutions, and since 2018, Baala has provided 1.5 million reusable pads, conducted 4000+ awareness workshops for 500,000 women and girls across 4 countries and 25 states of India.
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Kaushal Shetty (SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities), Co-Founder and CEO of Nostos Homes, a non-profit organisation that builds sustainable emergency shelters for people displaced by natural disasters. These homes act as a scalable, data-driven, low-cost, rapid deployment solution for areas in disasters. Kaushal’s work has been recognised by Forbes, World Bank, Mastercard, the Diana Award and has already facilitated over 481,000 nights of shelter in India and on the African Continent.
Shrutika Silswal (SDG 4 – Quality Education) is a Dalai Lama Fellow, and the Head of Programmes at the Simple Education Foundation in Uttarakhand region of India. The Simple Education Foundation is an organisation that supports more than 200 government school children across 5 schools by delivering contextual & sustainable school transformation programmes. She is currently designing another programme which will impact more than 100 government schools in Uttarakhand. Together, these programmes will ensure that children in this region have age-appropriate academic and social-emotional skills.
Twenty of those shortlisted will be selected as finalists, and the overall winners will attend the awards ceremony in London on September 14. Each of the 20 finalists will receive a trophy, certificate and £1,000 to expand the impact of their work. The top finalist from each region will be recognised as the regional winner and will receive £3,000. One of the five regional winners will become the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2023 and will be awarded £5,000.
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