Two Maltese girls among Queen’s ‘young leaders’

Two young people from Malta are among 60 young people from across the Commonwealth who are being recognised as exceptional leaders in their community.

28-year-old Annabelle Xerri from Ghajnsielem has been selected in recognition of her work promoting equal opportunities for the deaf community in her country, and 19-year-old Sara Ezabe from Gzira who has been acknowledged for her commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive society.

Xerri and Ezabe will receive a prestigious Queen’s Young Leaders Award, which will be presented in London by Her Majesty The Queen in 2016, and is part of The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme, which 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.

This year’s 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.

“It’s amazing to be recognised amongst so many other brilliant young people who are making a difference,” Xerri said.

Xerri explained how she has been deaf since the age of six, eventually learning to lip read until she was 25 years old, at which point she mastered sign language.

“I work with local families to offer them advice and support as well as with the authorities to ensure that deaf people have equal opportunities, enabling them to live independently,” Xerri added.

The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme was established in 2014 by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust in partnership with Comic Relief and the Royal Commonwealth Society in recognition of The Queen’s lifetime of service to the Commonwealth. Over the next three years the Programme will support thousands of young people to achieve their goals.

“Once again 60 incredible young people from around the Commonwealth have shown strength, leadership, empathy and drive,” Dr Astrid Bonfield, Chief Executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust said.

“Some of our winners are just embarking on their leadership journey and others are more established. Either way, we recognise not only what these amazing young people have achieved, but also their potential in changing people’s lives for the better in the countries and communities in which they live,” she added.

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 The Queen.

In order to be eligible for the 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; will have to be aged between 18 and 29 for the year of the Award and be citizens of a Commonwealth country and demonstrate evidence of their leadership qualities. Priority will be given to individuals who have overcome challenges to achieve their goals, and all nominees will need to be supported by a suitable referee.

For a full list of Award winners and Highly Commended runners up, and to read more about their stories, log on to www.queensyoungleaders.com