International recognition:

Achaleke Christian & Commonwealth Deputy SecretaryGeneral Josephine Ojiambo

Cameroonian 25, named Commonwealth Young Person for 2016

By Ajongakou Santos in Buea

Cameroonian born Achaleke Christian Leke is the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year. He received the award recently in the United Kingdom following his sundry contributions in inspiring young Cameroonians. Mr. Achaleke was one of four outstanding young people aged below 30 recognized in the 2016 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.

                The awards recognize outstanding young people from Commonwealth countries whose work has significantly contributed to local, national, regional or global development. Over 300 nominations were received this year and 17 finalists were named in January.

                The young peace activist established Action for Change Cameroon, a youth-led organization promoting peace and countering violent extremism.

                Receiving his award, Achaleke, aged 25, said: “I represent young people across Africa. Recognition and support to the work of young people remains a major challenge we face every day in our activities. This award recognizes and supports the role of young people in peace building and the fight against violent extremism.”

                He added: “This Commonwealth award will go a long way to amplify and create more awareness of our current peace building work with young people, street children, and youth in correction centres and prisons in Cameroon. I am sure this will inspire many young people to engage in the peace building process. We are ambassadors of peace and not agents of violence”.

                Achaleke was the best overall winner of the 2016 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work and also regional winner for Africa at a ceremony hosted at the Commonwealth Headquarters in London, Marlborough House, on 17 March 2016.

                Achaleke is a peace activist who established Action for Change Cameroon, a youth-led organization promoting peace and countering violent extremism. Over 5,000 young Cameroonians have benefitted from its youth empowerment programmes on ideals of peace building, countering violent extremism, leadership development, and national integration. He has organized over 40 different youth empowerment and advocacy training workshops across Cameroon and worked closely with the Cameroon National Youth Council.

                He has leveraged his huge following on social media to spearhead a culture of peace, and influenced dialogue among young people on opportunities to be peace builders. He has shared good practices and emerging trends and success stories of youth leadership in the areas of peace building and countering violent extremism, training over 2,000 young people with a manual he designed.

                Three other regional awards recipients were named as Commonwealth Young Persons of the Year for Asia, the Caribbean and Americas and the Pacific: They were Ms. ShougatNazbin Khan from Bangladesh (Asia), Ms. ShamoyHajare from Jamaica (Caribbean and the Americas) and Mr. Bal Kama from Papua New Guinea (Pacific).