100 Young Leaders Awards – Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust(QECT)

The 100 Young Leaders Awards recognise 100 outstanding young changemakers from across the 56 member states of the Commonwealth. Launched to commemorate what would have been Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday in April 2026, the awards celebrate youth leadership in service of their communities.

What’s Offered

• Award recognition via an official ceremony.

• Opportunity to apply for a micro-grant to scale a social initiative.

• Tailored mentorship and capacity-building support to strengthen leadership and organisational growth.

• Global visibility and networking: media exposure and connections with funders, partners and field experts.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: Must be between 18 and 35 years old at the time of application (born between April 1990 and April 2008).

• Leadership role: Founder, co-founder or key leader of a social-impact initiative.

• Citizenship/residency: Citizen or permanent resident of one of the 56 Commonwealth countries.

• Track record: Demonstrable measurable community or global impact for at least 12 months.

• Integrity: Initiative must operate legally, transparently, and align with QECT’s values.

• Language: Applications must be submitted in English.

Areas of Focus
Award-worthy initiatives should align with one (or more) of QECT’s five strategic areas:

• Education & Employability

• Environment

• Food & Agriculture

• Health

• Inclusion

Process & Structure

• Applications open in mid-2025; deadline is Wednesday, 8 October 2025.

• Shortlisting and review occur in late 2025; awardees announced early 2026.

• Ceremony and recognition take place in April 2026.