Ghanaian Youth Worker gets Commonwealth Organisation recognition
35-year-old Prosper Yaw Hoetu, executive director of Accra-based Youth Network for Human Rights and Democracy (you-net) is elated at his nomination among finalists of the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards.
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“It’s quite humbling” for no less a body than the Commonwealth Organisation to give this recognition for the work done by his organization, he told Graphic Online over the phone. “I’m quite excited about the award and it gives me further impetus to work for the interest of the youth.”
The Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards celebrate the achievements of youth workers and their enduring influence on young people, and according to Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Deodat Maharaj, such youth workers often work in difficult circumstances, have very few resources and yet make a big difference to the lives of young people.
Prosper was among fourteen outstanding youth workers from eleven countries named for the 2015 edition of the annual awards. National finalists came from Australia, Ghana, the Bahamas, Fiji, Jamaica, Kenya, Malta and Nauru, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Uganda. He has since been presented with a plaque and a certificate of recognition.
“He has been working to promote peace in communities in Ghana which have seen conflict. Engaging youth participation, mentoring and leadership training, Prosper has contributed to peacebuilding in these neighbourhoods,” reads a profile of Prosper on the website of the Commonwealth Organisation.
The former Students Representative Council president of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (2008/2009 academic year) said he feels more challenged, by the recognition, to do even more.
you-net aims to "build the capacities of young people for good governance, peace building and conflict prevention; promote networking among young people across the world and create opportunities for the youth to engage with stakeholders in youth development and influence policy through research and advocacy."
Focusing on capacity building, research and advocacy, you-net undertakes nationwide projects to further its vision of becoming “a leading youth development organization in Ghana and Africa that works to create opportunities for young people to actively participate in the lives of their communities and influence policies and programmes in favour of young people.”
