Young people from London and Malta, including several residents, attended the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
The event celebrates the people and cultures of the Commonwealth nations.
Around 2,000 guests attended the service, including members of the royal family.
The Commonwealth Day service was a chance for the young leaders to come together, celebrate youth, connect with community leaders and promote the values of the Commonwealth.
At the end of the service, the young ambassadors were invited to a private reception with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
The Youth Exchange Programme
We partnered with the Royal Commonwealth Society to bring together leaders, aged 18-25, from different nations.
The aim is for young people to develop and deliver social action plans based on the issues faced by their communities.
As part of the programme, participants travelled to Malta to complete their final proposals. Their aim is to influence public policies and regulations around eco-friendly sustainable travel.
The young people met His Excellency Dr George Vella KOM KCMG, President of the Republic of Malta.
They proposed plans to raise awareness of climate and environmental issues locally, support changes in individual action and highlight implications of high-carbon lifestyles.
All participants received one-on-one advice on leadership and development.
Nicole, 19, took part in the project and attended the Commonwealth Day service, said: “The youth exchange project has made such a positive impact on me that I cannot fathom the person I was before.
“Having met dozens of people with different aspirations, yet the same goal of a better world, I can safely say that this community has given me much more than I can imagine to give it back – and that inspires me to work even harder!”
