Queen to recognize Sault native's work with children (update)

Queen to recognize Sault native's work with children (update)

NEWS RELEASES THE QUEEN'S YOUNG LEADERS/MaRS ************************* It is today announced that three young people from Canada are among 60 young people from across the Commonwealth who are being recognised as exceptional leaders in their commu

NEWS RELEASES

THE QUEEN'S YOUNG LEADERS/MaRS

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It is today announced that three young people from Canada are among 60 young people from across the Commonwealth who are being recognised as exceptional leaders in their community.

These 60 young people are the first ever to receive a prestigious Queen’s Young Leaders Award.

The Award, which will be presented in London by Her Majesty The Queen in June, and is part of The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme, celebrates the achievements of young people who are taking the lead to transform the lives of others and make a lasting difference in their communities.

This year’s Award winners, aged between 18 and 29 and who come from all over the Commonwealth, are working to support others, raise awareness and inspire change on a variety of different issues including; education, climate change, gender equality, mental health and disability equality.

24-year-old Melissa Kargiannakis from Sault Ste Marie has been selected in recognition of her work as a mentor to school children.

24-year-old Rosimay Venancio from Toronto has been acknowledged for her programme to support young people in foster care to pursue a higher education, and Aaron Joshua Pinto from Mississauga was selected in recognition of his project that delivers food to disadvantaged communities.

Rosimay Venancio said: “My message is that it’s okay to come from this background and make it - I see my work as my opportunity to give back to a community that has given me so much”.

The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme is a new initiative established by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust in partnership with Comic Relief and the Royal Commonwealth Society in recognition of The Queen’s lifetime of service to the Commonwealth.

Over the next four years the Programme will support thousands of young people.

In addition to the Queen’s Young Leaders Awards, the Programme will provide grants to support organisations in selected countries across the Commonwealth that work with young people to transform their lives.

Dr Astrid Bonfield CBE, Chief Executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust said: “The leadership of talented young people in all spheres of life can transform communities and societies for the better. What the 60 young people announced today have achieved is remarkable and their plans for the future are truly inspiring. The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme is poised to unlock the potential of this diverse and talented group of young people and we are delighted to be supporting them to go further and achieve more.”

To see a full list of Award winners and Highly Commended runners up, and read more about their stories please visit www.queensyoungleaders.com.

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2,000 applicants, 60 winners, 3 Canadians, 1 Studio Y Fellow

Out of 2,000 applicants worldwide, Melissa Kargiannakis, a MaRS Studio Y Fellow from Sault Ste. Marie, is one of 60 Queen’s Young Leaders recognized for her work as a mentor to school children.

Melissa was part of the inaugural Studio Y cohort at MaRS Discovery District, where she built the foundations of her mentoring program, Sci-FY.

The program starts at the end of this month pairing post-secondary students with Grade 5 and 6 students to do science, reading and math activities.

The Queen’s Young Leader Award will be presented in London, UK by Her Majesty The Queen in June.

Part of the Queen’s Young Leaders program, the award celebrates the achievements of young people who are transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities.

Other Canadians honoured include Rosimay Venancio from Toronto, acknowledged for her program to support young people in foster care to pursue a higher education, and Aaron Joshua Pinto from Mississauga, selected in recognition of his project that delivers food to disadvantaged communities.

Congratulations to all the 2014 winners!

Learn more about Studio Y

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Previous SooToday coverage of this story:

Sci-FY program connects local students

PHOTO: Melissa Kargiannakis is pictured in this photo supplied by MaRS.