Commonwealth Youth Programme and International Award Association affirm strategic partnership

At a ceremony held at Marlborough House, the Commonwealth Secretariat headquarters, Ms Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and Ms Cristal de Saldanha, Head of Programme at the IAA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of HRH The Earl of Wessex, trustee of the IAA and chair of its International Council.

“Young people under 30 now comprise more that 60 per cent of the Commonwealth’s estimated 2 billion citizens. The issues the world is facing are critical – the past 18 months has seen the old economic and financial order collapse. Climate change is happening now. We need our young people to help shape the future for all of us,” said Ms Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba.

Ms Cristal de Saldanha said: “As a youth programme with a presence in over 40 Commonwealth countries, the Commonwealth Youth Programme, which shares our values of investing in and developing young people, is a natural partner for us in our work. By working together we can increase young people’s capacity to bring about social change and build sustainable futures for their communities, nations and the wider world.”

Around 650,000 young people in the Commonwealth are currently participating in the International Award for Young People, a self-development programme for 14-25 year olds which began in the UK in 1956 as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Both organisations are already working together on a number of projects around the world. These include an initiative based at the Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre, in Gulu District, where young people affected by civil war are being given the opportunity to develop new skills and livelihoods, and thereby build a more stable future for themselves and their communities. In the Solomon Islands, a country with high youth unemployment, another initiative supports young people in establishing micro-enterprises while undertaking personal development through the framework of the International Award and the Commonwealth Youth Programme.

For further media enquiries about the Commonwealth Youth Programme, please contact Victoria Holdsworth on v.holdsworth@commonwealth.int or +44 (20) 77476383.

For further media enquiries about The International Award Association (IAA), please contact: Ian Clay or Melanie Hulbert on iclay@technical-group.com or mhulbert@technical-group.com or on +44 (0)1582 878879.

Editor’s Notes

About The International Award Association

The International Award Association (also known as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Association) was formed in 1988 following the successful worldwide expansion of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award UK programme, launched in 1956 by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The IAA is headquartered in London and works with National Award Authorities and Award operators on a regional and national basis, ensuring that the Award Programme is delivered consistently and to the highest quality across the globe.

The Award now operates in over 130 countries, and has given over 6 million participants the chance to develop essential life and work skills, irrespective of background or circumstance.

To find out what the Award programme is called in your country or for more information on the International Award visit: http://www.intaward.org/

About the Commonwealth Youth Programme

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 countries that support each other and work together towards shared goals in democracy and development.

For over 30 years the Commonwealth Youth Programme has worked to champion the rights of young people, ensuring their engagement in the development process so they play an active part in reversing marginalisation, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and disease. We push for young people to be represented at all levels of decision making, including a seat and voice at the table when Commonwealth Ministers for Youth Affairs meet.

The Commonwealth Youth Programme has four Regional Centres which are located in Zambia, Guyana, Chandigarh and Honiara.