Two Jamaicans among finalists for Commonwealth Youth Awards

Two Jamaicans are among four Caribbean nationals named as regional finalists for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work, following a competitive selection process that drew nearly 1,000 applications from across the Commonwealth.

They are Corporal Moesha Allen and Nahjae Nunes, who join Kaveer Phillip of Trinidad and Tobago, and Ishmael Nicholson of Belize as the Caribbean’s representatives among 20 global finalists. The remaining nominees hail from Asia, Africa, Europe, Canada and the Pacific.

Allen, a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, is the founder of Helping Youths Pursue Excellence (HYPE), an initiative that reaches more than 10,000 young people through mentorship, literacy programmes, behaviour modification initiatives, police youth clubs and the Safe School Programme.

Nunes is an international development policy practitioner whose work focuses on reducing inequality by embedding children’s and youth evidence in public decision-making. He has helped negotiate several United Nations General Assembly resolutions adopted by all 193 member states. At UNICEF, where he currently serves as a senior research fellow, he has authored flagship publications on child poverty and supports several Commonwealth countries on social development concerns.

In congratulating the finalists, Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey highlighted the central role of young people in shaping development solutions.

“At the Commonwealth Secretariat, we believe that young people must be at the forefront of shaping solutions. Their research, innovation and voice are essential to the future we are trying to build. A future where these young leaders are empowered to tackle poverty, fight for climate justice, advocate for education, and bring hope to communities in need across our 56 nations.

“We are committed to recognising, nurturing and celebrating these young change-makers by creating platforms, such as the Youth Awards that spotlight their potential on a global stage,” she added.

PLATFORM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

For more than a decade, the Commonwealth Youth Awards have provided a platform for young people to access international networks and funding to support development projects, Botchwey added.

The Commonwealth Secretariat said the 2026 ceremony will also showcase the work of Commonwealth partners and accredited organisations. Breaking new ground, this year’s awards include six additional finalists shortlisted for the inaugural Patsy Robertson Award for Outstanding Communication Skills, named in honour of Robertson, described as “a powerhouse in journalism and a tireless advocate for women in media”. The award celebrates voices shaping a fairer and more open world.

The top regional winners, along with the recipient of the Patsy Robertson Award, will be announced at a special ceremony on March 11, during which one of the 20 finalists will also be named Commonwealth Young Person of the Year.

As finalists, Allen and Nunes are set to receive a £1,000 (J$213,000) grant, a trophy and a certificate. Each of the five top regional winners will receive an additional £2,000, while the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year will receive a further £2,000, bringing the total award to £5,000. The recipient of the Patsy Robertson Award will receive a trophy, a certificate and a £1,000 cash prize.

The London-based Commonwealth Secretariat said it received 977 applications from across the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 independent countries, largely former British colonies, which collaborate around shared goals of democracy, peace and prosperity.