NOLAN Salmon Parairua will travel to Buckingham Palace in England next Wednesday to receive an award from the Queen for his leadership role.
Parairua, 26 years, is among eight Pacific Islanders who will receive the awards.
They are among 60 young people from around the Commonwealth to receive a Queen’s Young Leaders Award.
The winners aged between 18 and 29 are working to support others, raise awareness and inspire change on a variety of issues including climate change, gender equality and mental health.
Parairua founded a group to reduce youth crime in the country through advocacy.
Honorary Envoy for Queens Diamond Jubilee in the country, Sir Thomas Chan farewelled Parairua at Honiara Hotel on Tuesday night.
As part of congratulating him, Sir Thomas also presented a shell money to Parairua to take to England and present to the Queen.
Parairua said it’s a honour to represent a small country in the award ceremony.
He said his award is dedicated to all the youths in the country.
In the meantime, Christina Houaisuta has won the first award in 2014.
The award ceremony will end in 2018, and more youths are encouraged to apply for the remaining two awards.
Other winners that will receive the award also are Mary Siro of Vanuatu who has encouraged young people in sports, Fiji’s Luisa Tuilau, Tabotabo Auatabu of Kiribati, Unique Harris of Nauru, Papua New Guinea’s Seini Fisi’Ihoi, Aiona Prescott from Tonga and Easter Tekafa Niko of Tuvalu.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
