7am - 8:15am - Joint Forums Opening Ceremony

Location - Mulinu'u Bay

Watch the livestream

8:15am - 8:50am - Registration and Refreshment

8:50m - 9am - Pacific Welcomes the Commonwealth to Samoa

9am - 10:30am - Plenary 1, Leveraging Youth Leadership in the Commonwealth

This session will explore the overall theme of the CYF, Navigating Our

Course: Building Resilience for a Common Future, with a particular focus

on building on the progress made by young people since the last CYF in

Rwanda, 2022. This plenary will explore the key objectives and outcomes

of the youth forum.

Speakers

• Leiataualesā Kevin Lucky, Chair Samoa National Youth Council

• Kim Allen, Chairperson, Commonwealth Youth Council

• Hon. Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman, Prime Minister’s

Youth Programme, Government of Pakistan and Co-Chair,

Commonwealth Youth Ministerial Taskforce

• Dr. Arjoon Suddhoo, Deputy Secretary General of the

Commonwealth

• Government of Samoa TBC

Moderator

Nahjae Nunes, Co-Chair of the Commonwealth Youth Forum

International Youth Taskforce, Jamaica

Official Photographs

10:30pm - 10:40pm - Spotlight Session

Showcasing Youth Action across the Africa Region

10:40am - 12pm - Plenary 2, Navigating our Course: Empowering Youth to Strengthen Inclusive and Resilient Democracies

This session will delve into the critical role of youth leadership in

reinforcing democratic values and structures. It will examine how young

people can drive greater civic engagement and participation, ensuring

that democracies are more inclusive, responsive, and resilient.

Speakers

▪ Hon. Mario Keith Bowleg, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture,

Government of the Bahamas

▪ Hon. Hamoa Holona, Minister of Education and Human Resources

Development, Government of Tuvalu

▪ Sajini Wickramasinghe, Commonwealth Youth Human Rights and

Democracy Network and Youth Advocate

▪ Miles Young, Director of the Human Rights and Social

Development Division, Pacific Community (SPC)

▪ Joshua Opey, Incoming Chairperson, Commonwealth Youth

Council

Moderator

Prof. Luis Franceschi, Assistant Secretary General of the Commonwealth

12pm - 1pm - Lunch

1pm - 1:10pm - Spotlight Session

Showcasing Youth Action across the Africa Region

1:10pm - 2:10pm - Plenary 3, Navigating our Course: Harnessing Youth-led Action and Solution for Sustainability

This session will explore the vital role of youth in combating the climate

emergency, focusing on the urgent need for climate education,

investment in green technologies, and sustainable practices. Speakers will

discuss innovative youth-led solutions and the importance of empowering

young voices to drive global sustainability efforts.

Speakers

▪ Honourable Kenson Casimir, Minister for Youth Development and

Sports, Saint Lucia

▪ Angelique Pouponneau, Environmental Lawyer, Seychelles

▪ Ofa Maasi Kaisamy, Manager, Pacific Climate Change Centre,

Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP)

▪ Falit Sijariya, Vice Chairperson (Elect), Policy and Advocacy,

Commonwealth Youth Council

Moderator

Okalani Mariner, Commonwealth Youth Forum International Youth

Taskforce, Samoa

2:30pm - 4pm - Breakout Session 1

This breakout session will build on the discussions from the second

plenary, offering a deeper dive into practical strategies for empowering

youth leadership in democratic processes. Participants will explore case

studies, share best practices, and collaborate on actionable solutions to

enhance youth engagement and ensure their active role in shaping

resilient and inclusive democracies.

▪ Building the social media presence of youth groups in Samoa and

the Pacific. Launch an international social media campaign to

highlight youth perspectives – Brown Girl Woke

▪ ‘A great leader can change the world in an instant’

– Public

Speaking and Advocacy Masterclass (ESU)

▪ The Pacific Youth Development Framework: Supporting Pacific

Youth Realise their Full Potential-Pacific Community (SPC)

▪ Samoa Youth Solutions-One Resilient Common Future – Samoa

Youth Solutions

4pm - 4:15pm - Networking Break

4:15pm - 5:30pm - Breakout Session 2

This breakout session will expand on the themes of the third plenary,

focusing on the practical implementation of youth-led initiatives for

sustainability. Participants will collaborate on strategies to scale up green

technologies, promote climate education, and drive sustainable practices,

ensuring that youth-led solutions are at the forefront of global efforts to

address the climate crisis.

▪ Leading a Community toward Climate Resilience: A Participatory

Workshop – Peace Corps

▪ Fostering a generation of environmentally conscious and climate-

resilient young people, UNICEF Pacific

▪ Heritage Guardians: Youth Leadership in Conservation-

Conservations International

▪ Roundtable Discussion on Youth Empowerment Initiatives in

Kenya – Government of Kenya

6pm - 9pm - Youth Welcome Networking Reception

8:30am - 9am - Arrival of Delegates

9am - 9:05am - Opening Remarks

Government of Samoa

9:05m - 9:10am - Spotlight Session

Showcasing Youth Action across the Asia Region

9:10am - 10:15am - Plenary 4, Navigating our Course: Youth-Driven Approaches to Resilient Economies through Entrepreneurship, Skills Development, and Digital Innovation

This session will explore how youth-led entrepreneurship, skills

development, and digital innovation are key to building resilient

economies. It will highlight the role of young people in driving economic

transformation, fostering sustainable growth, and creating opportunities

in the digital age.

Speakers

▪ Ambassador Amina Mohamed, Commonwealth Secretary-

General’s Special Envoy for Sport, Enterprise and Development

▪ Jennifer Britton, Deputy Programme Manager, ICT for

Development, CARICOM Secretariat

▪ Professor Robin Mason, Chair of the Commonwealth Scholarship

Commission, Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

▪ Honourable Bakary Y. Badjie, Minister of Youth and Sports,

Government of The Gambia

▪ Khosrow Siisiialafia, Grassroots Studio

Moderator

Mandisa Mthimkhulu, Commonwealth Youth Forum International Youth

Taskforce, Eswatini

10:15pm - 10:30pm - Refreshment Break

10:30am - 12pm - Breakout Session 3

This breakout session will build on the fourth plenary by exploring

practical strategies for empowering youth in entrepreneurship, skills

development, and digital innovation. Participants will collaborate on

actionable solutions to drive economic resilience and sustainable growth

across the Commonwealth.

▪ How to Achieve Resilient Economies to Benefit Young People - A Masterclass with the Commonwealth Trade Union Group

▪ U-Report: A digital community for young people, by young people, ‘where they can raise their voices and share opinions on topics that matter to them’ – UNICEF Pacific

▪ Digital Entrepreneurs: Driving Change in the Commonwealth's Innovative Sector, Commonwealth Secretariat

▪ Think Trade, Think Green: Tradeathon-Trade Competitiveness Section, Commonwealth Secretariat

12pm - 1pm - Lunch

1pm - 1:10pm - Spotlight Session

Showcasing Youth Action across Europe

1:10pm - 2:10pm - Plenary 5, Navigating Our Course: Mapping the Way Forward

This session will focus on looking ahead at commitments, partnerships,

and strategic alliances to strengthen societal resilience and enhancing

well-being of young people. It will explore how empowering young people

through opportunities, education, mental health support, and inclusive

policies can create more resilient communities that thrive in the face of

social and economic challenges.

Speakers

▪ Hon Mmapaseka Steve Letsike MP, Deputy Minister for Women,

Youth and Persons with Disabilities, South Africa

▪ Dr. Kim Eva Dickson Head and Representative for Samoa,

American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau, World Health

Organization (WHO)

▪ Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF Pacific Representative

▪ Mike McCabe, Regional Director, Peace Corps

▪ Chris Jenkins, President, Commonwealth Games Federation

▪ Rumanusina Maua, Health Information Systems Adviser, Public

Health Division of the Pacific Community (SPC)

Moderator

Shane John, President, Trinidad National Youth Council, Trinidad and

Tobago

2:10pm - 3:30pm - Breakout Session 4

This breakout session will build on the fifth plenary by exploring practical

strategies for strengthening societal resilience and enhancing well-being.

Participants will collaborate on empowering young people through

projects and initiatives that focus on healthcare, social protection,

community engagement, and the recognition of diversity as key

components of resilient societies.

▪ The Role of Music and the Creative Industry in Building Resilience-The Commonwealth Resounds

▪ An Interactive Session on Adolescent Boys and Mental Health- UNICEF Pacific

▪ Disability Inclusion in Building Resilient Communities-The Pacific Community, Pacific Disability Forum and Commonwealth Children and Youth Disability Network

▪ Prevention of Violent Extremism through Empowerment inclusion of Women and Youth in Mediation Efforts-Women Mediators across the Commonwealth

3:30pm - 5pm - Closing Ceremony of CYF

▪ Commonwealth Year of Youth Finale

Presented by Darasing Khurana and Christabel Derby

▪ The Final Performance of the Commonwealth Music Relay

▪ CYC Executives Installation Ceremony

▪ Arrival of the Torch of Change

▪ Presentation of Memento and Awards

▪ Closing Remarks

• Joshua Opey, Chairperson, Commonwealth Youth Council

(Presentation of the Youth Declaration)

• Hon Utumatwishima Jean Nepo Abdallah, Ministry of Youth and Arts, Government of Rwanda and Co-Chair, Commonwealth Youth Ministerial Taskforce

• Representative, Government of Samoa

• The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, Secretary General of the Commonwealth

6pm - 9pm - Combined Closing Reception

10am - 2pm - Community Service and Outreach Initiatives

• Tree Planting Site at Vailima
• RLSS Museum
• Hike to Mount Vaea
• View of Botanical Garden

2pm - 5pm - Market Tour

10am - 2pm - Community Service and Outreach Initiatives

National University of Samoa Tour

2pm - 5pm - Market Tour