Jamaican among the Queen’s Young Leaders For 2016

Tijani Christian, a 24-year-old Jamaican, is among 60 young people from across the Commonwealth being recognised as exceptional leaders in their community and who will receive a prestigious Queen’s Young Leaders Award.

Despite a difficult childhood, Tijani excelled at school and went on to win many awards, including the Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for Excellence for 2013 in the category of Leadership. He currently works on an initiative called Plant Jamaica,  a non-governmental organisation (NGO), which aims to promote sustainable livelihoods through community farms.

The NGO was formed to encourage people to grow healthy produce for their families, as well as to keep their communities clean and tidy. Mr. Christian is also trying to launch an initiative called Commonwealth Emerging Leaders Connect, which will bring young leaders from across the Commonwealth together to share knowledge and ideas.

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 to make a lasting difference in their communities.

This year’s Award winners, aged between 18 and 29, 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.

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, and 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.

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.

Other Caribbean young achievers receiving awards include Regis Burton of Antigua and Barbuda; Shamelle Rice and Firhaana Bulbulia, Barbados; Deidra Smith, Belize; Tina Alfred, Dominica; Ali Dowden, Grenada; Trevis Belle,  St. Kitts-Nevis; Tevin Shepherd, St. Lucia; and Dillon Ollivierre, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Two other Jamaicans, Jerome Cowans and Nicole Nation, won the Award in 2014.