A young Solomon Islander has made his mark on the global stage after being named a Pacific regional finalist for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.
Maverick Peter Seda is among 20 outstanding young leaders selected from across the 56 Commonwealth countries, following a highly competitive selection process that attracted 977 applications worldwide.
The Commonwealth Youth Awards recognise young people who are driving impactful and sustainable development initiatives in their communities while advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Finalists were chosen through a rigorous two-stage judging process conducted by Pan-Commonwealth adjudicators.
Mr Seda currently serves voluntarily as the Pacific Coordinator for Reverse The Trend Pacific (RTT Pacific) and is also an active member of the Malaita Provincial Youth Council.
He was recognised for his strong commitment to youth-led development initiatives and his engagement across multiple platforms, including Reverse The Trend, Malaita Provincial Youth Council, Empower Healthy Isles, and collaborations with Commonwealth youth networks.
Through his work, Mr Seda has supported youth engagement on key community issues such as health awareness, malaria prevention, civic participation, peace advocacy, and youth leadership, using creative and community-based approaches to reach young people at the grassroots level.
Speaking to Solomon Star from London, Mr Seda said he was humbled by the recognition.
“I am truly honoured to receive this recognition. I remain humble and grateful,” he said in an interview on Wednesday night.
“I hope the exposure from this award platform will help amplify the voices and messages of the many youth organisations and young people I work with across the Pacific.”
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, congratulated all finalists, emphasising the critical role of young people in shaping the future of the Commonwealth.
“Their innovation, voice, and leadership are essential to tackling poverty, climate change, education challenges, and inequality across the Commonwealth, communities in need across our 56 nations.,” she said.
“At the Commonwealth Secretariat, we believe that young people must be at the forefront of shaping solutions.
“Their research, innovation and voice are essential to the future we are trying to build.
“We are committed to recognising, nurturing and celebrating these young changemakers by creating platforms such as the Youth Awards that spotlight their potential on a global stage.” She added.
For over a decade, the Commonwealth Youth Awards has provided a platform for young people to utilise international networks and access funding to support their projects.
Building on the momentum of the 2023 and 2025 editions, the 2026 ceremony will showcase the impactful contributions of the Commonwealth’s partners and accredited organisations.
The 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards ceremony will be held on 11 March 2026 at Marlborough House in London as part of Commonwealth Day celebrations and will be livestreamed globally.
All finalists will receive a £1,000 grant, a trophy, and a certificate, with regional winners eligible for additional funding.
One finalist will also be named Commonwealth Young Person of the Year.
And as for Mr Seda he is one of four Pacific regional finalists, proudly representing Solomon Islands and highlighting the impact of youth leadership from small island developing states on the global stage.
The Commonwealth Youth Awards are an initiative of the Commonwealth Youth Programme, which has supported youth development across member countries for more than 50 years.
For the Pacific region, four names were nominated.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
