To showcase the positive influence of youth making meaningful contributions within their communities, the Commonwealth Secretariat has recently opened nominations for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.
Operated by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, these awards—commonly known as the Commonwealth Youth Awards (CYA)—honor exceptional young changemakers aged 15 to 29 from all 56 member nations who undertake impactful initiatives that advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Each year, one remarkable participant is selected as the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year, with regional honors awarded to individuals from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Canada, and the Pacific, as outlined in a release from the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The announcement for the Commonwealth Youth Awards was broadcast on the Commonwealth Secretariat’s YouTube channel on International Youth Day (IYD), Tuesday, August 12, 2025, featuring previous winners sharing how the awards have spotlighted their innovative approaches to tackling complex challenges.
In her message for IYD, Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon Shirley Botchwey stated: “Across our 56 member countries, young people are not waiting for permission to act. They are building sustainable farms, launching climate apps, mentoring students, running for local office, and turning the Sustainable Development Goals into local, living realities. They are the change, and it’s our job to support them.”
Meanwhile, Stanley Anigbogu, CEO of LightEd and the 2025 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year, reflected on his expereince, saying,“Winning the award was surreal; I couldn’t believe it when my name was called, and it has been an incredible journey since then. Not only have I gained tangible support, but I’ve also received numerous opportunities to showcase my work. This experience has allowed me to build partnerships and friendships, and I highly recommend participating in it.”
In a new development, the 2026 awards will be launched in collaboration with the Commonwealth Association for the first time.
“This milestone year offers a special chance to highlight success stories. Past nominees include entrepreneurs, inventors, environmentalists, women’s rights advocates, health campaigners, and political activists—showcasing the diversity of talent within the Commonwealth. The awards provide a global platform to promote these innovations and offer funding to help scale up development initiatives,” stated Layne Robinson, Head of Social Policy Development at the Secretariat.
The winners will be revealed during a week-long series of events celebrating Commonwealth Day in March 2026.
All finalists will receive a trophy, a certificate, and financial grants to support their ongoing development efforts. Every finalist will be awarded a £1,000 grant, with regional winners receiving an additional £2,000—totaling £3,000. The Commonwealth Young Person of the Year will also receive an extra £2,000, bringing their total award to £5,000.
For additional details about the awards or to submit an application or nomination, please visit the official nomination portal. Entries must be submitted online by 23:59 GMT on October 17, 2025.
The launch of the nominations coincided with the Commonwealth’s IYD celebrations in August. IYD 2025 marks a significant milestone as it commemorates a decade since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015.
The 2026 CYA awards continue a legacy of over fifty years dedicated to celebrating, empowering, and engaging young people across the Commonwealth.
Is Dominica still a member of the commonwealth? I don’t believe Dominica should have anything to do with the commonwealth because thanks to PM Skerrit we now need a visa to enter the mother country of the commonwealth. In fact Dominica is more known now as the CBI corrupt country than we are known as the Commonwealth of Dominica .As such I am calling on PM Skerrit to change the name of our country from the “Commonwealth of Dominica”to the Corruptweatlth of Dominica