Inspiring young Aussies receive Queen's award

SBS World News Radio: Prince Harry is urging young people to use social media for good after praising young people who do inspirational work at an awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Inspiring young Aussies receive Queen's awardInspiring young Aussies receive Queen's award

Inspiring young Aussies receive Queen's award

The Prince and Queen Elizabeth were at the event to celebrate the winners of the Queen's Young Leaders Award, recognising inspirational young people from across the Commonwealth.

The Australian recipients include a refugee from Somalia, another who created a disability app, and one who supports carers.

At a ceremony at Buckingham Palace to honour winners of the Queen's Young Leaders Award, Prince Harry admitted he can no longer call himself young.

So the 32 year-old says it is up to those like him to listen to the next generation.

Addressing a crowd mainly aged between 18 and 28, the Prince praised their inspirational work, which range from combating bullying in schools to preserving the environment.

He also spoke of the problems with social media.

"We often hear and read so much about the challenges people are facing in every corner of the world, all of which is brought vividly to life through digital and social media. We are better connected than ever before. This can make the world seem a faster, more complex, and challenging place and too often it can make us all feel pessimistic about the future."

But the Prince wants to see digital networks used to improve the world.

"At home and abroad, I see people - especially young people - doing incredible things. Young people are using this technology more than ever to be a force for good and positive change in their communities."

Three young Australians joined dozens from around the Commonwealth at the ceremony, greeting and dining with the Prince.

Among them was Somali refugee Abdullahi Alim, who promotes digital solutions to counter violent extremist propaganda online.

Madeleine Buchner has been recognised for charity work for young carers.

She is elated after shaking hands with the Queen to receive her award.

"I'm feeling every spectrum of emotion at the moment. I can't even explain how I feel it's the most incredible and surreal experience and it tops everything that has ever happened in my life, times a billion."

Also there was Jordan O'Reilly, who has created an app to connect people with disabilities with carers of similiar interests.

"I run a platform called HireUp which is an online platform that gives Australians with disability the power to find and hire their very own support workers and it all came about because I had a younger brother with a disability and so I got to see everyday the challenges that young people with disabilities face in finding great supports."

Sixty young people have been chosen as winners each time - one to represent each year the Queen served as Head of the Commonwealth at the time of her Diamond Jubilee.

 






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