CEO of local project makes 2022 Commonwealth Youth Awards shortlist

Sasha Middleton, the CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Marine Ecosystems Protected Area Trust Inc., is among four Caribbean nationals to have made the shortlist for the Commonwealth Youth Awards 2022.

Middleton’s organization — described as impressive — is one of 10 National Conservation Trust Funds in the region.

The mission of her project is to actively raise funds and work with multi-sectoral partners to support the protection, recovery, and effective management of Antigua and Barbuda’s protected areas.

Middleton has helped the trust to fundraise and distribute over $600,000 in recovery efforts in Barbuda; employ over 100 people in various Trust projects; and support over 40 children in after-school programmes.

The organisers say that morethan 1,000 entries were received this year – the highest ever recorded.

Twenty extraordinary young people, including inventors, activists and entrepreneurs, from 17 countries — including Trinidad & Tobago, Dominica and Belize — have since been announced as finalists for this year’s awards.

All 20 finalists will each receive a trophy, certificate and £1,000 to expand the impact of theirprojects.

Each regional winner (from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe & Canada, and the Pacific) will receive £3,000, and the overall pan-Commonwealth winner will take home a total of £5,000.

The top finalist from each region will be announced as the regional winner at the official awards ceremony on March 16, which will be held virtually.