MSc alumnus receives award from the Queen at Buckingham Palace
Salman Ahmad (MSc International Business 2014) visited Buckingham Palace on 22nd June to be one of the first recipients of the Queen’s Young Leaders Award. The award was presented by the Queen during a ceremony which celebrated young people who have taken the lead to make a lasting difference in their communities. In a one-week residential programme leading up to the awards ceremony, the winners received a unique package of training, mentoring and networking. With this support, the award winners will be expected to continue and develop the amazing work they are already doing in their local communities.
Salman was selected for this award in recognition of his work on addressing youth employment and development through entrepreneurship in Pakistan. He came to the University of Liverpool after gaining a Commonwealth scholarship and after completing his MSc programme in 2014, he was named MSc International Business Student of the Year. Salman returned home to Pakistan with the aim of improving the lives of his fellow disabled citizens.
Salman commented: “My belief is that we cannot change the fate of a poor community merely by donation unless we teach them ways of wealth creation. This has made me a young activist to promote entrepreneurship as a source of sustainable economic growth in developing countries.
“I consider the Queen’s Young Leader Award a great recognition of my work and I am confident that this will enable me to contribute better to the well-being of my society. While studying at the University of Liverpool, I realised that we can facilitate opportunities for disabled people by making universities accessible for them. Therefore, through the Queen’s Award I will mobilise the resources to create a platform for disabled people in Pakistan which will give them a chance to become part of the political system, where decisions are being made.”
After suffering from childhood polio, Salman has refused to let his mobility problems hold him back and co-founded the GADE Foundation in 2011 of which he is elected President. The GADE Foundation aims to encourage and support entrepreneurship among young people and alleviate poverty. It has established a number of projects which address social problems in Pakistan. These projects are coordinated and championed on a regional basis through 26 chapters at universities throughout the country. Salman plans to continue his work through campaigning for schools in Pakistan to become more inclusive by providing facilities for people with disabilities, and contribute to changing attitudes towards disabled people.
Dr Astrid Bonfield CBE, Chief Executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, said: “The leadership of talented young people in all spheres of life can transform communities and societies for the better… The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme is poised to unlock the potential of this diverse and talented group of young people and we are delighted to be supporting them to go further and achieve more.”
To see the video of Salman receiving his award, please click here