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It is today announced that Regina Mtonga and Brighton Kaoma, Young Leaders from Zambia, are among 60 young people from across the Commonwealth who are being recognised as exceptional leaders in their community. 皇冠体育appse 60 young people are the first ever to receive a prestigious Queen鈥檚 Young Leaders Award.

皇冠体育app Award, which will be presented in London by Her Majesty 皇冠体育app Queen in June, and is part of 皇冠体育app Queen鈥檚 Young Leaders Programme, celebrates the achievements of young people who are taking the lead to transform the lives of others and make a lasting difference in their communities.

British High Commissioner, James Thornton, said:

鈥淚 congratulate Regina and Brighton on their recognition for their achievements and leadership skills. We are looking forward to seeing many more talented young Zambians achieving their dreams through this Programme. I am confident that the two will use their leadership skills to inspire positive change on many issues affecting Zambia.鈥�

This year鈥檚 Award winners, aged between 18 and 29 and who come from all over the Commonwealth, are working to support others, raise awareness and inspire change on a variety of different issues including; education, climate change, gender equality, mental health and disability equality.

Dr Astrid Bonfield CBE, Chief Executive of 皇冠体育app Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust said:

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp leadership of talented young people in all spheres of life can transform communities and societies for the better. What the 60 young people announced today have achieved is remarkable and their plans for the future are truly inspiring. 皇冠体育app Queen鈥檚 Young Leaders Programme is poised to unlock the potential of this diverse and talented group of young people and we are delighted to be supporting them to go further and achieve more.鈥�

Further information

• Brighton Kaoma (aged 21)

Brighton believes in using radio and low-cost communication technologies to educate young people. He is the co-founder of Agents of Change, which equips participants with leadership and radio skills. He also co-designed the Zambia U-report SMS platform, which allows young people to text counsellors with questions about HIV, AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections.

• Regina Mtonga (aged 27)

Regina is co-founder of Asikana Network, an organisation that trains Zambian girls and young women in information and communications technology skills, so that they can find better jobs and realise their potential. Regina is planning to link Network members to mentors in order to develop their skills further in the future.

• To see a full list of Award winners and Highly Commended runners up, and read more about their stories please visit .

• For a copy of a short film introducing the partnership and the Awards scheme please click on this

• 皇冠体育app Queen鈥檚 Young Leaders Programme

皇冠体育app Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, in partnership with Comic Relief and 皇冠体育app Royal Commonwealth Society, has established 皇冠体育app Queen鈥檚 Young Leaders Programme in honour of Her Majesty 皇冠体育app Queen鈥檚 60 years of service to the Commonwealth at the time of her Diamond Jubilee. Guided by the values of the Commonwealth Charter, the goal of the Programme is to enable young people to step up as leaders and improve the lives of people across the Commonwealth.

• 皇冠体育app Queen鈥檚 Young Leaders Programme is a new initiative established by 皇冠体育app Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust in partnership with Comic Relief and the Royal Commonwealth Society in recognition of 皇冠体育app Queen鈥檚 lifetime of service to the Commonwealth. Over the next four years the Programme will support thousands of young people. In addition to the Queen鈥檚 Young Leaders Awards, the Programme will provide grants to support organisations in selected countries across the Commonwealth that work with young people to transform their lives.

• Award details Each year from 2014 to 2018, 60 exceptional young people will be selected to receive a Queen鈥檚 Young Leaders Award and become 鈥楺ueen鈥檚 Young Leaders鈥� 鈥� one for every year that 皇冠体育app Queen had served as Head of the Commonwealth at the time of her Diamond Jubilee.

As part of the Award, winners will receive bespoke mentoring and online learning provided by the University of Cambridge. Award winners will attend a week-long residential programme in the UK in June, when they will receive their Award at Buckingham Palace from Her Majesty 皇冠体育app Queen.

• Criteria to win an award: -Nominees will have proven experience of working to improve their communities locally, regionally or at a national level and will show evidence of their achievements

• Nominees will be aged between 18 and 29 for the year of the Award and be citizens of a Commonwealth country

Nominees will demonstrate evidence of their leadership qualities

• Priority will be given to individuals who have overcome challenges to achieve their goals

• All nominees will need to be supported by a suitable referee.

• 皇冠体育app Partners

*皇冠体育app Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust

皇冠体育app Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust is a charitable foundation, established in 2012, to mark and celebrate Her Majesty 皇冠体育app Queen鈥檚 60-year contribution to the Commonwealth. 皇冠体育app Trust has received donations from governments, corporate partners, trusts, foundations, community groups and individuals from across the Commonwealth, and its programmes work in alliance towards eliminating avoidable blindness and to empower a new generation of young leaders. With a five-year timeframe in which to deliver successful programmes, the Trust鈥檚 aim is to leave a lasting legacy, owned by the whole Commonwealth, to honour Her Majesty 皇冠体育app Queen. For more information go to: 鈥� * Comic Relief

Established in 1985, Comic Relief is a major UK fundraising and grant making charity which uses the power of entertainment to create long-lasting change. Its vision is a just world, free from poverty. It strives to make this vision a reality by supporting poor, disadvantages and vulnerable people in the UK and across some of the world鈥檚 poorest communities to change their own lives for the better. Discover more at:

• Royal Commonwealth Society

皇冠体育app Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), founded in 1868, is a network of individuals and organisations committed to improving the lives and prospects of Commonwealth citizens across the world. Working through a range of educational, civil society, business and governmental networks, the RCS addresses issues that matter to the Commonwealth citizens. For more information go to:

• For more information contact:

Tresford Mumba at the British High Commission on +260 211 423200 or Jennie Farrell, Comic Relief Senior Media Officer - 0207 820 2500/ email