Gallipoli Youth Award 2010

:::Click here for the Photo Gallery (13 photos):::

Friday afternoon featured the presentation of the 2010 Gallipoli Youth Award to Devon Francis, a student at Albany Senior High School. Both Devon Frances and the Turkish recipient, Aytuna Yalcin, have close connections to to ANZAC and Turkish soldiers who served at Gallipoli.

The award, which is run by AFS in partnership with the Royal New Zealand RSA, runs from March to May 2010. It involves a six-week exchange including homestays with each other’s families, attendance at local schools and participation in ANZAC and Turkish commemorative services.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister, Hon Judith Collins presented the award, with other attendees including Barbara Cavanagh, school principal and host; Elizabeth Francis, grandmother of Devon and former AFS exchange student; Tony Calvert, Marketing & Communications Manager, AFS New Zealand; Nejat Kavvas, Consul-General of Turkey; and BJ (Barry) Clark, National Vice President, RNZRSA.

Both Devon Frances and Aytuna Yalcin will be writing about their 6 week exchange at the Gallipoli Youth Award weblog.

3 News covered the event, and you can see their story here.