20-year-old Tiffany Daniels of Guyana has been selected as one of thirty-five young participants in the 2010 Nkabom Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme.
Tiffany, a student of Sociology at the University of Guyana, is an ardent youth activist. Beating stiff competition from over 500 other international applicants, she has emerged as Guyana’s sole representative in a group comprising 28 diverse nationalities.
The Nkabom Programme is a flagship project of the Royal Commonwealth Society, the oldest and largest NGO devoted to Commonwealth affairs. The word Nkabom (pronounced ink-a-bom) means ‘coming together’ in parts of Ghana where the programme was first held in 2004.
In September 2010, thirty five young people aged between 18 and 25 from around the world will gather in Kigali, Rwanda for an interactive 10 day programme focussing on international understanding, peace building and conflict resolution skills. Rwanda, which is the Commonwealth’s newest member state and where the average age is 18 years, will be an ideal setting for an initiative that propagates the potential of young people to be agents of peace and development.
Tiffany Daniels said: “I am delighted to have been offered a place on the programme, especially given its focus on peacebuilding. We ought to envision a world where our children ask what ‘was’ war as opposed to them being caught in this present-day snare. ’’
RCS Youth Programmes Manager, Claire Anholt said: “The standard of applications received this year has been outstanding. The knowledge, experience and perspective that Tiffany will bring to the programme will, I am sure, empower her fellow participants to promote peace within their own communities and in the wider world.’’
Notes to Editors
The Nkabom Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme:
- actively engages young people in international issues, particularly conflict resolution
- fosters friendships and encourages the exchange of ideas among people from diverse cultural backgrounds
- develops a network of young leaders who can pioneer and revitalise peace-building initiatives in their communities, their countries and beyond
- is directed by young people themselves.
The Royal Commonwealth Society: Founded in 1868, the RCS conducts a range of events and activities aimed at promoting international understanding. Its educational, youth and cultural programmes include one of the world’s oldest and largest schools essay competitions, and an innovative international youth leadership programme. HM Queen Elizabeth II is Patron. Headquartered at the Commonwealth Club in London, the RCS has some 4000 members in the UK and a presence in 40 Commonwealth countries through a network of branches and Commonwealth societies. The RCS is a registered charity in England & Wales (226748). For more details, visit: www.thercs.org
Tiffany Daniels:
- Currently completed a BSc. in Sociology with an unofficial GPA of 3.6 from the University of Guyana, awaiting graduation in November.
- Youth journalist/secretary for Youth Media Guyana
- Previous Intern at the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre
- International Youth Juror for the United Nations Alliance of Civilization’s – Plural +
- Years of extensive involvement with projects of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
- Independent Coordinator and Chief Facilitator of UNICEF funded/GuyberNet Facilitated Rights Education Summer Programme in 2008
- Previous Presidential Candidate for the University of Guyana’s Student Society Elections 2009-2010
- Represented Guyana and the Caribbean in May 2010 at the United Nations Alliance of Civilization’s Youth Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Alma mater – St Rose’s High School (2000-2005) [top ten graduating student]; The Bishop’s High School (Lower 6th Form: 2005-2006)
- Represented Guyana and the Caribbean at the International Student Week in Ilmenau, Germany (May 2009)