Vincentian to receive Young Leaders award from Her Majesty The Queen

A Vincentian is among 60 young people from across the Commonwealth who are being recognized as exceptional leaders in their community. These 60 young people will receive a prestigious Queen’s Young Leaders Award.{{more}}

The award, which will be presented in London by Her Majesty The Queen in 2016, and is part of The Queen’s 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.

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.

Vincentian Dillon Ollivierre, 26, has been selected as a Queen’s Young Leader. A teacher, Dillon tries to inspire young people, both in the classroom and beyond, to become model citizens. He is the director of an NGO called Rise Up Bequia Inc, which was set up to help people affected by the country’s 2013 floods.

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.

Dr Astrid Bonfield, chief executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust said: “Once again 60 incredible young people from around the Commonwealth have shown strength, leadership, empathy and drive. Some of our winners are just embarking on their leadership journey and others are more established. Either way, we recognize 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.”

To see a full list of award winners and highly commended runners-up, and read more about their stories, please visit www.queensyoungleaders.com.