Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
Two Jamaicans shortlisted for top Commonwealth Youth Awards
Latest News
February 21, 2020

Two Jamaicans shortlisted for top Commonwealth Youth Awards

LONDON, United Kingdom (CMC) — Two Jamaicans are among three Caribbean nationals included in 16 contenders comprising innovators, activists and entrepreneurs from 12 countries who have been shortlisted for this year’s Commonwealth Youth Awards.

A pan-Commonwealth judging panel met last week and selected the top individuals in each of the award’s four regional categories with two Jamaicans and a Guyanese emerging from the Caribbean and Canada group.

The London-based Commonwealth Secretariat said that this year, the awards received more than 500 entries from 40 countries.

“Of those shortlisted, the top candidate from each region will be named as a regional winner. One of these four regional winners will become the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2020,” it said, adding that the 16 finalists will each receive a trophy, a certificate and £1,000 (One British pound=US$1.29 cents) to expand the scope of their projects.

The regional winners will each earn a trip to London to attend the awards ceremony on 11 March 2020 and will receive £3,000. The overall pan-Commonwealth winner will take home a total of £5,000.

According to the Commonwealth Secretariat, the three Caribbean winners are Lalita Gopaul from Guyana and Jamaicans Stephen McCubbin and Samuel Neil.

Gopaul is an environmental sustainability activist and researcher by profession. Her research work covers eco-friendly agricultural methods, clean energy solutions and green technologies which have been used in Guyana.

Her work has educated more than 100 farmers in the country to adopt more sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming methods to boost production and improve livelihoods in a changing climate. She is also the founder of ‘Eco Club’ which mentors young people on environmental education. The club also runs coastal clean-up activities, tree planting sessions and climate-action walks.

McCubbin is the founder of ‘Cheer Sensation JA’; a youth non-profit which works to foster holistic development through the sport of cheerleading.

Through its cheerleading programmes and competitions, the organisation provides a safe space for children and adults to become physically active whilst working as a violence prevention tool in volatile communities in Jamaica. His work has enabled him to attract international cheerleading bodies to Jamaica to provide technical support to the organisation, further increasing awareness and support for the sport.

Neil is the founder of ‘The Aviation Club of Jamaica’; a national initiative which encourages young people to enter the aviation sector.

The programme provides student members with scholarship opportunities and training programmes through its partnerships with training institutions. The programme has introduced hundreds of local young people to the world of aviation and supported many to go on to become qualified aviation professionals.

The Secretariat said that the judging panel included high commissioners, development experts and youth leaders from across the Commonwealth.

The awards recognise outstanding young people whose innovative projects have made a real impact in helping their countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

“Their talent paired with tangible solutions sends a strong signal that they should be equal partners in the development agenda, not passive allies,” said the head of social policy development at the Commonwealth, Layne Robinson.

“With now only 10 years remaining to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Commonwealth takes great pleasure in bringing these young people’s invaluable efforts to the global stage so their leadership can inspire others and accelerate meaningful youth participation.”

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Legendary KC footballer Trevor ‘Jumpy’ Harris has died
Latest News, Sports
Legendary KC footballer Trevor ‘Jumpy’ Harris has died
September 10, 2026
Legendary Kingston College footballer Trevor “Jumpy” Harris has died. Harris, who played on arguably the greatest schoolboy football team in 1964 and ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Reconstruction of Over River Bridge continues with resilience upgrades
Latest News, News
Reconstruction of Over River Bridge continues with resilience upgrades
September 10, 2026
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Work is continuing on the Over River Bridge in St James East Central, with design changes being made to improve the structure’s re...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Fitz-Henley hails 60 per cent decline in murders since 2017
Latest News, News
Fitz-Henley hails 60 per cent decline in murders since 2017
September 10, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Abka Fitz-Henley, is hailing the work of the security forces and the G...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Privy Council introduces free visa process for parties attending London appeals
Latest News, News
Privy Council introduces free visa process for parties attending London appeals
September 10, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Commonwealth citizens travelling to London to attend Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) proceedings can now access a f...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer", "breaking-news":"Push Notifications"}
Gas prices up $0.25, diesel up $2.94
Latest News, News
Gas prices up $0.25, diesel up $2.94
September 9, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Motorists should see an increase at the pumps in the price of gasoline effective Thursday, September 10, according to the latest e...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Mt Pleasant edge Portmore 1-0 to move into joint second in Group B of Caribbean Cup
Latest News, Sports
Mt Pleasant edge Portmore 1-0 to move into joint second in Group B of Caribbean Cup
September 9, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica— Defending champions Mt Pleasant FA moved into contention for qualification to the next round of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup after ed...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Montego Bay Perimeter Road project paused
Latest News, News
Montego Bay Perimeter Road project paused
September 9, 2026
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Work has been paused on the Montego Bay Perimeter Road as the contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), reviews its sa...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Norman Manley demolish Ardenne 9-0 in Manning Cup opener
Latest News, Sports
Norman Manley demolish Ardenne 9-0 in Manning Cup opener
September 9, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica— A hat-trick by Demarco Bryan propelled Norman Manley High to the biggest win of the opening round of the Manning Cup, trouncing Ard...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct