The prestigious TOYP Awards serve to formally recognise exceptional young people who both excel in their chosen fields and create positive social change. 

Last year JCI UK entered two outstanding candidates; Emily Cummins and Sabirul Islam, both of whom were named as one of the Ten Outstanding Young People in the World for 2010. 

This year we have nominated another three inspirational young people from across the UK and would like to take this opportunity to introduce them to you.

Ruth Ibegbuna, leader of RECLAIM; an award-winning preventative youth crime project founded by her in 2007. RECLAIM targets young people across Greater Manchester from areas of social instability.  

The Not for Profit Organisation has gathered a huge amount of critical acclaim for adding tangible benefits to communities, but more importantly, it has been supported and adopted by the communities that host the project.  

Ruth is a true driving force behind RECLAIM and winning a global award would complement her existing accolades of Manchester Peace Activist of the Year 2008 and Manchester City Council award for Outstanding Contribution 2009.

Kai Graf von Pahlen, a Solicitor at Manchester firm Davis Blank Furniss, has also been nominated.  Kai is an exceptional young Lawyer with a difference; in that he has a true passion for offering transforming thought leadership propositions on various topics where law unduly stifles justice for the people.  

His published work provides a new take on bridging the equality and justice gaps across diverse areas of society, thus instigating individuals to both question the existing legal standing and challenge historic protocol.  Away from his career, Kai excels in bettering society by engaging in humanity service through a number of charities.  Kai was recognised as a ‘JCI Manchester Rising Star’ in 2010.

Carly Ward strives to provide inspiration for young people to start their own businesses. In searching for inspirational entrepreneurs Carly has succeeded in building a high profile network that is supportive of her work and desire to help as many young people as possible with her online and classroom delivered ’12 Steps to Success’ programme and YES Network. 

Carly has been recognised as Inspirational Women in Business Award winner in March 2011 and Winner of the Haines Watts Young Entrepreneur of the Year Special Achievement Award, Nov 2010.

JCI Manchester International Liaison Director, Matt Worman, commented on the Manchester nominations: “Ruth and Kai are truly inspirational people - not only are they both already exceeding expectations in their respected career paths, but more importantly, and pertinent to the TOYP Awards criteria, their commitment to humanity service and passion for bettering society is exceptional.  JCI Manchester is extremely proud to be associated with both individuals and on behalf of the Manchester public, we wish them the best of luck.”

JCI UK National Administration Director, Debbie Tills commented on Carly’s nomination:  “ Carly’s motto is that “successful people aren’t different, they just do things differently”. This is certainly the case where Carly is concerned. Not only did she seek to improve on an existing idea, she has developed that idea beyond recognition to provide an inspiring programme that really works.”

JCI UK wishes our three nominees the best of luck for the international round of judging and hopes to be cheering them on at the TOYP ceremony at World Congress in Belgium in November.