English Royal to honour inspiring local lady dedicated to changing lives
Twenty four year old Mavis Elias has been chosen as one of the final and very last Queen’s Young Leaders award winners in recognition of the role she is playing in her community to change lives.
Elias will join the Queen’s Young Leaders network of 240 award winners, a unique community of influential change-makers, who represent all 52 Commonwealth countries.
The winners announced this week, will receive their Award from Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London, UK, next year.
Elias who is from the Khomas region, has been chosen in recognition of the work she is doing to provide support to underprivileged families and homeless people in her community and beyond.
“I am still in sheer disbelief of this opportunity. It goes far beyond being chosen as one of the Queen’s Young Leaders, but rather the opportunity to be mentored and receive guidance to help foster my dreams, is what I am most grateful for. It is a great honour and privilege to represent my country on an international platform, and I hope to give my best,” Elias said.
The prestigious Awards programme, now in its fourth and final year, celebrates exceptional young people aged 18 to 29 from across the Commonwealth and the work they are undertaking to improve lives across a diverse range of issues, from supporting people living with mental health problems, helping children to receive a quality education, to promoting gender equality.
“In this, the final year of The Queen’s Young Leaders programme, once again we have outstanding Award winners, leading the way in transforming people’s lives for the better in every part of the Commonwealth. We congratulate them all for their remarkable achievements. Over the coming year the programme will nurture and develop their talents, and equip them to go further in making a lasting change in their communities. I hope they find the experience to be truly life-changing and I’m delighted to welcome today’s winners to the now complete network of Queen’s Young Leaders,” said Dr Astrid Bonfield CBE, Chief Executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.
The Queen’s Young Leaders Award winners receive training, mentorship and networking opportunities, and take part in a residential programme in the UK, to help them build on the work they are leading in their communities. They join a now complete network of Award winners and, in tribute to Her Majesty The Queen’s lifetime of Service, will continue to connect and collaborate and change lives for years to come.
