TCI's Zaria Ingham Wins Youth Impact Award at 2026 Commonwealth Youth Development Summit

Turks and Caicos Islands’ youth leader, Ms. Zaria Ingham, has recently been recognised on the international stage upon receiving the ‘Youth Impact Award’ at the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Development Summit, held from April 9-11, under the theme “From Commitment to Impact: Working for a Resilient Commonwealth.”

The three-day summit brought together over 150 delegates from more than 50 countries, providing a platform for young leaders, policymakers, and development partners to actively engage in critical dialogue on advancing youth development across the Commonwealth of Nations. Key discussions focused on strengthening advocacy efforts and delivering actionable policy recommendations in crucial areas impacting young people, including the economy, the environment, and democratic resilience, ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda.

Ingham’s award recognises her outstanding contributions to advancing youth development at both national and international levels. Her work spans a wide range of advocacy initiatives, including engagement with organisations such as UNICEF, the Commonwealth Youth Parliament, the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Programme, as well as collaboration with global non-governmental organisations. Her decade-long advocacy has spanned a variety of key issues impacting young people, including climate change, mental health, education, women’s empowerment, and civic engagement.

As the sole delegate representing the Turks and Caicos Islands, Ingham championed and amplified young people's perspectives, ensuring that local priorities and lived experiences were reflected in wider Commonwealth discussions. Her contributions formed part of broader youth-led recommendations aimed at strengthening democratic resilience and inclusion across member states.

Reflecting on both the recognition and a growing global consensus, Ingham emphasised the need to move beyond dialogue to tangible outcomes, noting that while youth voices are increasingly included in global conversations, lasting impact depends on clearly defining the path forward, strengthening intergenerational collaboration, and translating youth perspectives into policy and action across local institutions.

Her participation and recognition at the summit not only highlight individual achievement but also signal the growing presence of Turks and Caicos Islands youth in global policy spaces, reinforcing the importance of continued investment in youth engagement and leadership at the national level.