2 Bangladeshis among finalists

Two Bangladeshi youths are among the 17 finalists from 13 countries shortlisted for the 2017 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year award.

Ukhengching Marma and Towfique Ahmad Khan were named for their works that would contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said a press release published on the Commonwealth website on Wednesday.

Ukhengching made it to the shortlist for her Menstruation Hygiene Campaign that reached out to around 700 girls to raise awareness about sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Towfique, on the other hand, is a social entrepreneur who founded the South Asian Society and launched the “Girls for Global Goals” campaign empowering 600 young girls with knowledge about the SDGs. This led to 4,500 volunteers organising more than 500 programmes.

He also promoted the campaign “Know your SDGs” to raise awareness and reached out to 42,000 young people, added the press release.

The award giving ceremony would be held at the Marlborough House in London on March 15.

This year's finalists are recognised for spearheading projects that will contribute to the SDGs -- a set of 17 global targets that governments have committed to achieve by 2030, it added.

 The Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work celebrate outstanding adolescents and young adults aged 15-29 from Asia, the Pacific, the Caribbean and Americas, Africa and Europe, who are leading initiatives ranging from poverty alleviation to peace-building.

The finalists were chosen by a panel of judges including representatives of Commonwealth High Commissions, Commonwealth organisations and young leaders. The Commonwealth Young Person of the Year will be announced on March 15 alongside regional young persons of the year for Asia, the Pacific, the Caribbean and Americas, Africa and Europe.

The shortlisted finalists hail from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malawi, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uganda and the United Kingdom.