Ugandan wins Commonwealth Youth Worker Award, 2015

By Joyce Namutebi                  

A Ugandan youth has won the Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards for 2015, for playing a pivotal role in the development of young people.

Victor Ochen who is founder of the African Youth Initiative Network(AYINET), was one of five outstanding youth workers recognised for their efforts to support young people in building peace.

The awards ceremony was held at the Commonwealth’s headquarters in London on Thursday.

The Ugandan NGO works to empower young people to promote democratic leadership and civic engagement in communities that have faced conflict.

The not for profit organisation was formed ten years ago in Lira, in northern Uganda.

Through the network, Victor has provided medical rehabilitation and intensive psychosocial rehabilitation to more than 5,000 victims and survivors of armed conflict, while empowering young people to promote democratic leadership and civic engagement. In 2015, he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

The regional Youth Workers of the Year for Asia, Caribbean and Americas, Europe and the Pacific were from Pakistan, Jamaica, Malta and Fiji respectively, a statement issued by the Commonwealth Secretariat said.

On receiving his award, Ochen said: “I am very grateful for the recognition from the Commonwealth. To me, it is the best opportunity to promote young people’s contribution in the global agenda for development. I want to congratulate my colleagues from other regions as well but, above all, I want to congratulate the community that I serve which has inspired me.”

“In Africa we need peace. So we must look at the ingredients of peace - democracy, participation, generational inclusion, gender inclusion, diversity- and focus our positive energy on acknowledging, profiling and amplifying the voices of the voiceless,” Ochen said.

The Commonwealth Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma said: “The contribution of youth workers is vital to community cohesion and nation building. Their impact on individual development and public wellbeing is beyond measure, but not beyond recognition. That is why the Commonwealth pioneered professional accreditation of youth work, with training and diplomas to set standards and acknowledge the status of these specialist workers.”

“The Commonwealth Youth Worker of the Year Awards adds to the distinction of the profession, and acknowledge the immense contribution being made across our member states through innovative initiatives led by brave and inspirational youth workers - often in dangerous circumstances and at considerable personal risk, the statement said.

 The recipients of these 2015 Awards make heroic contributions, empowering young people to change their lives for the better, building safer and more inclusive societies. They exemplify all that is best in the Commonwealth, and embody the values and principles of our Charter.”