KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — At just 23, Heidy Quah has achieved something few people her age have: she will receive a Young Leaders Award directly from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
The award from the British monarch is recognition for Quah’s advocacy and aid work for refugees in Malaysia.
According to an official statement, the queen will present the award on June 29 at Buckingham Palace in London.
The Queen’s Young Leaders Award recognises and celebrates exceptional people from across the Commonwealth, who are dedicated to driving change in their communities and beyond.
Quah is among 60 winners selected to take part in a one-week residential programme, which includes high-level engagements, training, mentoring and networking, all of which are designed to help them further their life-changing work.
“I am delighted to have been selected for the Queen’s Young Leader Award and hope to expand my role as a youth advocate and spokeswoman for refugees,” Quah said, referring to her role and work in NGO Refuge For The Refugees (RFTR).
The statement added that this year’s winners are advocates of various issues ranging from tackling bullying in schools and preserving the environment, to promoting gender equality.
Before receiving their awards at Buckingham Palace, the winners will visit 10 Downing Street as well as take part in masterclasses at the BBC World Service and the UK headquarters of global social media company Facebook.
They will also get to meet the Commonwealth Secretary-General, take part in workshops at the University of Cambridge, meet senior executives from some of the UK’s leading organisations and visit projects that are changing the lives of vulnerable people in the UK.
The programme will finish with the launch of the final ever search for the Queen’s Young Leaders.
The application process to become a Queen’s Young Leader of 2018 will be open on June 29 and is open for people aged between 18 and 29 who are dedicated to creating positive changes to the lives of people in Malaysia and across the Commonwealth.
“The Queen’s Young Leaders of 2017 are doing truly remarkable work within their communities. Their actions are having a positive impact not only on those around them but also by setting in motion positive change that will last for generations to come.
“The residential programme is an opportunity for the 2017 Queen’s Young Leaders to come together for the first time, to foster partnerships and share ideas about how they can work together as a group to improve people’s lives all over the Commonwealth,” said Astrid Bonfield, chief executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.
Details on how to apply to become a Queen’s Young Leader and information about the 2017 Award winners and runners up are available at www.queensyoungleaders.com.
