2016 QYL Residential Week (PS)

Press Statement:
19/07/2016

2016 QYL Residential Week 

The 2016 Queens Young Leaders residential week took place from 18 - 25 June. Participants traveled from across the Commonwealth countries to participate in the week long programme. 
Founder/Coordinator of ACT:Fj, Ms. Elisha Bano, won the Queens Young Leaders award in 2015 but was unable to travel, however the QYL team ensured she traveled this year to participate in the residential week and to collect her award from Her Majesty, the Queen. "When I finally reached London I felt at ease. That's when it really hit me that this is happening," said Ms. Bano. 

Ms. Bano and Luisa Tuilau (QYL 2016, Fiji) traveled together and represented Fiji. The main highlight of the residential week was of course receiving awards from Her Majesty, The Queen. "Words can't explain how I felt. A few of the staff came to check up on us to ensure we were ok. I was nervous and excited. I kept thinking over and over what I will say to Her Majesty. I mean I have waited for over a year for this moment. And it was such a special moment. She was so sweet. I wish I could chat with her for a longer period of time. I still feel it was all a dream. It is truly a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life." 

Elisha Bano (QYL, Fiji, 2015) receiving her award from Her Majesty, the Queen, at the Buckingham Palace. 

The 64 winners of the Queens Young Leader award (2015/2016) with Her Majesty, the Queen, Sir John Major, Prince Harry and David Beckham at the Buckingham Palace. 

The programme also included visits to leading UK Charities such as UpRising, Reprezent, Media Trust and Centre-point, Twitter headquarters in UK, BBC, #10 Downing street, UK's leading advertising agency AMV BBDO, PWC, Standard Charters, Commonwealth secretariat and the University of Cambridge where the participants spent two days. 

"During our time at Cambridge we had sessions with some of the people who have contributed to the Leading Change course. While all the sessions were great, informative and engaging my favourite three have to be; Fredrik Haren, Hazel & Andy's design class, and Oli Barrett's session. I will be sharing why these are my favourite sessions and more details about the other sessions on my personal blog in the days and weeks to come," shared Ms. Bano. 

Luisa Tuilau (QYL, Fiji, 2016); Fredik Haren (author of The Idea Book) & Elisha Bano (QYL, Fiji, 2015)

The residential programme was an opportunity for the participants to network, collaborate, share ideas and skills and take their projects a step further. During the residential week programme the QYL's have gotten to know each other better and have shared ideas to help each others projects. 

"A few of us have already started to discuss possible ways to collaborate and we are keeping in touch. The internet just makes it so much easier to share our ideas and communicate from the different parts of the world that we reside in".

Ms. Bano and three other 2015 QYL's were accommodated this year during the residential week and they have developed a link between the alumni (2015) and the 2016 QYL's. "Some members of the alumni came to Cambridge and conducted a session with the rest of us. Since I didn't get to meet them last year it was great to have this opportunity this year." 

It wasn't all meetings and discussion sessions for the QYLs. The QYL's were hosted for dinner at the Australia House, after the award ceremony at Buckingham Palace and had a great dinner experience at The Shard. The view from Level 24 was simply magnificent and the QYL's dressed up for this fine dining experience. 

A breathtaking view from level 24, The Shard. 

"We went punting in Cambridge and sightseeing in London. We visited the London Eye, Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, ate at Jamie Olivers restaurant and managed to do some shopping. One evening about 14 of us went to see the night scene of London and it was an amazing night. We saw the London Eye at night, it looks great all lit up. We caught the tube and the double deck bus. We had a great time."
 
Now that Ms. Bano has returned she is conducting sessions with the group members of ACT:Fj and taking them through what she learnt over the course of the residential week. The group is working on project ideas for the coming months and will be focusing a lot more on the Sustainable Development Goals as this was one of the main discussions they had with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat. 

"We spent some time listing which goals our various projects were involved in and during our visit to the Commonwealth Secretariat we (in smaller groups) came up with a recommendation document that will be presented to the Secretary General. The SG was very inspiring and motivated us to get involved in the SDG's. Many of us are already discussing projects to collaborate. If you have a group out there (in Suva, Fiji or even in the Pacific) let us know how you are working towards achieving the SDG's and maybe we can look at ways to collaborate and network. I am sure we can learn from each other and share what we know and have."

The QYL's with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat. 

The Queens Young Leaders sure have their work cut out for them and the search is now on for the 2017 Queens Young Leaders. To apply or nominate check out QYL website

END OF STATEMENT
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For comments/clarifications please email the ACT:Fj team on actfiji@gmail.com 

Kindly inform us before using this Press Statement for further publication. We can also be contacted for specific segments of the residential week or for high resolution photographs.