Young Trinidadian wins Commonwealth Youth Award

A young man from Trinidad and Tobago has won a regional prize at this year’s Commonwealth Youth Awards.

Mickel Alexander was named the Caribbean’s regional winner for founding ‘The 2 Cents Movement’ – a youth-led, arts-based educational programme supporting up to 30,000 young people annually.

He is one of five exceptional young people recognised for impressive projects alleviating poverty, improving education, promoting action on the climate and addressing gender inequality.

Organised by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, the annual awards recognise outstanding Commonwealth young people (age 15-29), from the different Commonwealth regions (Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Europe and Canada, and Australia and the Pacific) whose projects are transforming lives in their communities; providing practical solutions to complex problems and helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda.

young ingenuity

Addressing the awards ceremony, Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland said:

“Young people are central to the role and purpose of the Commonwealth – and at the heart of our work.

“One of the many things that amazes and excites me most about our Commonwealth young people is their ingenuity.

“Whether the challenge they are tackling is new or centuries-old, their innovative spirit, energy and passion offer us out-of-the-box solutions that can change the world for the better.

“I am proud to put our incredible young people in the spotlight with these awards.”

The other four regional award winners are:

Africa: Franc Kamugyisha, Uganda, for launching ‘EcoPlastile’ – a recycling initiative that turns consumer waste into roofing materials and biodegradable face masks.

Pacific: Thompson Auri, Papua New Guinea, for a project renovating closed airstrips so isolated communities have vital access to treatment and services.

Asia: Edward Yee, Singapore, for co-founding ‘GivFunds Social Ventures,’ a non-profit organisation which provides sustainable and low-cost capital to neglected social enterprises.

Europe and Canada: Jemima Lovatt, United Kingdom, for launching an initiative that partners with businesses to address taboo topics such as domestic abuse, sexual harassment, and unequal pay.

More than 1,100 entries were received this year – the highest ever recorded. Twenty finalists were selected across each of the award’s regional categories following a rigorous judging process.

Each regional winner will receive £3,000 for their project.