Commonwealth Youth Wins Luxembourg Peace Prize 2018
May 16Achaleke Christian Leke, who was the 2016 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year has been named the Winner of the Luxembourg Peace Prize for 2018 as Outstanding Youth Peacemaker for his preeminent efforts and initiatives to promote peace.
Achaleke, from Cameroon was awarded for his preeminent efforts and initiatives to promote peace by the Schengen Peace Foundation and the World Peace Forum who award the prize each year. He currently serves as the Pan-Commonwealth Coordinator of the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network, and has been working with young people across the Commonwealth as well as state institutions to advocate for and promote the role of young people in peace building.
Achaleke has been a key actor in the adoption and implementation of the UNSCR 2250; for eleven years he has played a role engaging in civil society, and working with cohorts of young people across Cameroon and the world to shape the role of young people in development and sustaining peace.
On winning the award, Achaleke said “I am very excited about this award and I believe it goes a long way to prove the important role of young people have been engaged in in sustaining peace and preventing violence of all forms. I am very convinced this award will inspire more young people to engage in the peace building process as well as give me an opportunity to learn and serve young people across the world “
Achaleke grew up with and had experience of violence in his local community in Fiango Kumba in Cameroon. He then succeeded in transforming into a peace ambassador, using his experience of violence to design initiatives for young people, working with his team and peers to empower and advocate for youth participation in sustaining peace and preventing violent extremism. Achaleke currently serves as a Cameroonian Youth Ambassador to the Commonwealth and the National Coordinator of Local Youth Corner Cameroon.
About the Schengen Peace Foundation, World Peace Forum and Luxembourg Peace Prize
For the seventh consecutive year, the Schengen Peace Foundation and the World Peace Forum will be awarding the prestigious Luxembourg Peace Prize to outstanding peacemakers and activists in Luxembourg.
The award comes in alignment with the efforts of the Schengen Peace Foundation, approved in 2007 by His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri, as a Peace—Think—Tank, to support peace building.
Achaleke will be awarded during the Luxembourg Peace Prize ceremony June 22 2018.
