The 5th Global Youth Work Conference, themed Youth Work in a Changing World: Sustaining Local Wisdom for Global Connectivity, will be held from 17–19 November 2025 at the International Youth Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Workers Associations (CAYWA), and Universiti Putra Malaysia, it marks the first time the event is hosted in Asia and coincides with Malaysia’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Chairmanship and ASEAN Community’s 10th anniversary.
The conference – which is expected to be attended by 250 people - aims to strengthen youth work by bridging local traditions and global innovation. It recognises the importance of youth workers in equipping young people—especially the 34% youth population in ASEAN—with the skills and values needed to thrive.
Structured around the PESTLE framework, six sub-themes—Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental—will be explored through keynote speeches, interactive breakout sessions, and themed discussions. These focus areas examine youth engagement in civic life, sustainable economic models, cultural inclusion, digital literacy, legal advocacy, and climate action, all while developing strategies in indigenous wisdom and local practices.
Key objectives include promoting dialogue among stakeholders, professionalising youth work, amplifying grassroots efforts, and fostering inclusive participation. The conference will feature dynamic, participatory formats with both in-person and virtual access, aiming to produce actionable outputs such as policy recommendations, mentorship networks, and regional action plans.
By fostering global partnerships and shared learning, the event will aim to empower youth workers and young leaders to co-create a more equitable, resilient, and culturally-rooted future across regions.
The conference will also see the Commonwealth Youth Worker of the Year Awards 2025, which will include a special award to commemorate Dr Henry Charles. The awards will recognise the outstanding contributions of youth workers in fostering the development of young people.
There will also be a day dedicated to cultural site visits and to youth hubs as an opportunity to see first-hand how youth development differs across the Commonwealth.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
