MEDICAL student and Jamaica Observer writer Nicole Nation will be one of two Jamaicans to receive the inaugural Queen’s Young Leaders Awards from Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace next Monday, June 22.

Twenty-two-year old Nation is a disability ambassador, and is being recognised for raising funds for projects to assist the disabled community, including a school for the hearing impaired. She provides online content for the Observer’s All Woman magazine.

Jerome Cowans, 25, has been recognised for co-founding Leaders Endeavouring for Adolescent Development. The project provides personal development opportunities for young people so they will go on to better futures.

Nation and Cowans are among five young people from the Caribbean, and 60 from across the Commonwealth, who will receive the honour “for taking the lead in transforming the lives of others and make a lasting difference in their communities”, according to information from the Queen’s Young Leaders secretariat.

Before receiving the award, the winners will meet UK Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street, visit the headquarters of global social networking company Twitter, and meet with senior executives at BBC World Service.

Following the ceremony, they will spend four days in the UK to take part in a residential development programme as part of the award prize. The programme includes workshops at Cambridge University, meetings with UK businesses leaders, and visits to life changing social action projects.

Jerome Cowans said: “I am so happy to be one of the first recipients of the Queen’s Young Leaders Award. To be recognised for my work and to be presented with an Award by Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace is such a huge honour.”

“I want this to be an inspiration for other young Jamaicans to pursue whatever they are interested in with vigour and commitment,” Nation told the Observer.

The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme was established by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, in partnership with Comic Relief and The Royal Commonwealth Society in honour of Her Majesty The Queen’s 60 years of service to the Commonwealth on the occasion 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,” the secretariat said.

“Award winners are aged between 18 and 29 and 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.”

If you or someone you know is doing inspiring work like this year’s Queen’s Young Leaders, you can apply or nominate at www.queensyoungleaders.com.

Applications for 2016 will open at 7:00 pm on June 22, 2015.