The Nigerian founder of the youth-led climate education NGO ‘Preserve Our Roots’, Amara Nwuneli, has won the Under 17’s category Canon Young Champion of the Year Award at this year’s Global Good Awards.
A news report from African Press Organisation (APO) Group distributed on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) indicated that announcement of this year’s Global Good Awards was made at the awards ceremony which took place at BMA House, headquarters of the British Medical Association in London, amongst the 17 categories Company of Year, which went to Octopus Energy and Wild World, going to South West Peatland Project.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Canon Young Champion category of the Global Good Awards, the only youth dedicated category, recognised inspiring young leaders from across the world. The category was originally inspired by the Canon Young People Programme, which gives young people the knowledge, skills and confidence to tackle the sustainability issues that matter to them using creativity and critical thinking.
To determine this year’s Canon Young Champion of the Year Award winner, an inspiring panel of judges gathered in London, including Executive Director at UN Global Compact Network UK, Steve Kenzie, 2023 Canon Young Champion of the Year finalist Jodie Bailey-Ho, and photographer and Canon Ambassador, Laura El Tantawy. In addition to her judging position Laura will provide a masterclass in storytelling for this year’s winners, helping to support the photography and communication of the initiatives young leaders are running.
This year’s Canon Young Champions will each receive a Canon EOS R50 Content Creator Kit and will take part in a masterclass with Laura. Shortlisted finalists will also receive certificate, sustainably made medal and a joint masterclass with Laura.
Commenting on the awards initiative by his company, Head of the Canon Young People Programme and Social Initiatives, Adam Pensotti, said: “It is essential for organisations like Canon to play their part in supporting and recognizing the personal development and progress of young changemakers and by collaborating with the Global Good Awards, we work to achieve this goal. Something that stood out to me in the Canon Young Champion applications this year is that each finalist has set up at least one programme or a series of programmes to combat issues that affect their community and their peers. I congratulate this year’s Canon Young Champions for their exceptional work supporting their communities across the world.”
Speaking about her award at the event, Nwuneli, the under 17’s category award winner, said: “I am not just a climate activist. I am not just a Philanthropist or student. I am not just a daughter, dancer, poet, or avid nature freak. I am a representation of my natural world and my ancestors that once inhabited it. I truly believe in the power of youth because I have seen with my own eyes the change, I have been able to make through my story and the stories I help tell. I have been blessed with the opportunity to see the magnitude of which a simple idea can positively impact people’s lives.”
Other winners at the event were the under 25’s category joint winner, Shri Akshayaa Lakshmikumar,
who is the founder of HERglobal, an international nonprofit dedicated to destigmatising women’s health on an international scale; and Jahaan Arora, who had launched multiple initiatives, including the 1 Million meals programme, where 6,000 children collected grain donating half a million meals to 1000 orphans in his local village in India.
He said “I was so touched at our last school visit, where a child wrote and recited to me a poem about hunger and another shared how a 8 year old child like him can now make a difference to hunger. It’s quite overwhelming, and empowering.”
