Young people constitute more than 60 per cent of the population of the Com­monwealth; their empowerment is es­sential to the success of the Commonwealth and its member states.

The Commonwealth works with youth leaders, member governments and other stakeholders to engage and empower young people and enhance their contribution to development.

The Commonwealth Youth Awards for Ex­cellence in Development Work 2018 aims to raise the profile of young people and high­light the contribution they are making towards developing a fairer, sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous future for the Commonwealth.

Elvis Kumar, 25, originally from Lautoka, Fiji, was fortunate to be one of the five Pacif­ic regional finalists for the Commonwealth Youth Awards 2018.

This special edition of the awards coin­cided with the Commonwealth Youth Fo­rum (CYF) preceding the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, from April 16 to 18 under the theme ‘Towards a Common Future’.

It highlighted the contribution that young people are making throughout the Common­wealth, in areas such as peace and security, poverty alleviation, conflict resolution and prevention, democracy and environmental preservation.

Mr Kumar has been engaged in youth work, social development and community services, not only in Fiji, but in the Pacific Region.

He has represented Fiji and has been the voice of the young Fijians in numerous sem­inars and conferences abroad.

Mr Kumar’s work was recognised for this prestigious award, due to his immense con­tributions made in peacebuilding and self-development activities in the region.

Apart from his various positions in local youth organisations, he is the Oceania Re­gional Co-ordinator and a Certified Mind­fulness Trainer for the World Peace Initia­tive Foundation (WPI), which is a non-profit NGO headquartered in Thailand.

WPI envisions sustainable change hap­pening only when each and every one of us works towards our own self-development. Mr Kumar has worked in nine Pacific coun­tries with the inner peace and meditation framework for self-development.

“I am very thankful to the World Peace Ini­tiative Foundation for giving me the oppor­tunity to work with them with an approach to sustainable world peace through mindful practices,” he said.

“I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who have taken part in my activities and benefitted from it and provided great feedbacks. I am also very grateful to the Commonwealth Youth Programme for rec­ognising and acknowledging my contribu­tions towards building a peaceful society.

“Young people have the potential to bring about sustainable development, they must not be underestimated and must always be encouraged and supported,” said Mr Ku­mar.

He was invited to attend the Common­wealth Youth Forum, which was hosted in London during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting last week.

He was awarded a certificate of achieve­ment, a trophy and £1000 (FJ$2844) cash prize.

During the Forum, Mr Kumar met His Royal Highness Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker and discussed about development work. Edited by Naisa Koroi

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