A young man from the Solomon Islands has been recognised by the Commonwealth for his work on sustainable livelihoods.
From left: Johanan Dujon, of Saint Lucia; Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland; Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, of Nigeria; Padmanaban Gopalan, of India; and Bobby Siarani, of the Solomon Islands. Photo: Commonwealth Youth Program
Bobby Siarani is among four winners of a Commonwealth Youth Award who will share about $US16,000 for their efforts to end hunger, sexual violence, sanitation issues and climate change.
Mr Siarani founded a bio-gas initiative to address waste disposal and sanitation issues and he plans to use his Commonwealth grant to take his initiative to remote areas in the Solomons.
"I'm planning to expand my project in the rural areas in my country. Around 70 percent of the total population are in the rural areas. My project will address sanitation needs of our people."
Bobby Siarani said the project delivered biogas-based construction workshops to more than 500 young people and provided clean energy to hundreds of people in rural Solomon Islands.
Other Pacific finalists included Samoa's Angelica Salele and Isabell Rasch, and Fijians Sivendra Michael, Zoe Paisley and Lisa Paisley.
Commonwealth secretary-general Patricia Scotland said the pace, depth and scope of development in any society depended on how well its youth were nurtured and supported.
She said young people must be provided with the space to thrive, to contribute and to realise their potential.
"In such an environment, they are able to exercise their rights and citizenship, and to find fulfilment and purpose; passing on to others the gains and positive values that come from the true community," Baroness Scotland said.
Every year, youths in 53 Commonwealth states, and aged between 15 and 29, are recognised for their leading initiatives in sustainable development goals.