Two Bangladeshi youths have been named among the winners of the Queen’s Young Leaders Award 2018.
Ayman Sadiq, 25, and Zaiba Tahyya, 26, will take their place alongside 12 other Asia-based winners of the prestigious award, which celebrates exceptional youths aged 18-29 years who are working to improve lives across a diverse range of issues.
The other Asian winners include one from Brunei Darussalam, three from India, two from Malaysia, three from Pakistan, two from Singapore, and one from Malaysia.
The Queen’s Young Leaders Award was established in 2014 with the approval to run until 2018, making the latest edition possibly the last.
Dr Astrid Bonfield CBE, chief executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, said: “In this, the final year of The Queen’s Young Leaders programme, once again we have outstanding Award winners, leading the way in transforming people’s lives for the better in every part of the Commonwealth.
“We congratulate them all for their remarkable achievements. Over the coming year, the programme will nurture and develop their talents, and equip them to go further in making a lasting change in their communities.
“I hope they find the experience to be truly life-changing and I’m delighted to welcome today’s winners to the now complete network of Queen’s Young Leaders.”
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Ayman was selected in recognition for his efforts to improve access to education in Bangladesh through the online educational platform “10 minute school”, of which he is a founder.
“It is an immense honour and a privilege, to say the least, to be a part of this incredible movement which brings together some of the most brilliant young people of the world,” Ayman said in a press release.
“The unparalleled opportunity to get to learn first-hand about the significant causes they are working for is one I am ardently looking forward to. I can't wait to hear about the many ways in which they are making the world a better place every day.”
Zaiba was selected for her work to promote gender equality and reduce violence against women in the country through various different campaigns.
Zaiba said: “I am filled with emotion to have been declared a winner of the Queen's Young Leaders Award. Not only is the Award a personal achievement, but I feel that I am able to make the women in my community proud and encourage them to raise their voices more.
“I cannot explain in words how excited I am. Every time I think about it, my eyes fill up with tears of joy. I cannot wait to learn more from other young leaders and share experiences in the coming year. I cannot even say that it is a dream come true as I did not even imagine this in my wildest dreams.”
This year’s winners will be formally presented with their awards by Her Majesty The Queen herself, in a special ceremony to be held at Buckingham Palace in London in June 2018.
Sunday, April 27, 2025
