Latest content: Society and young people

For over 50 years, the Commonwealth Secretariat has been instrumental in empowering young people across its 56 member countries to lead and drive progress on development goals.

To highlight young people making a positive difference in their communities, the Commonwealth Secretariat recently opened nominations for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.

Over 200 youth leaders from across the Commonwealth joined the Commonwealth Youth Council for the inaugural Youth Leadership Consultative Dialogue in Windhoek, Namibia. The event was led by Namibia’s Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, the Hon Sanet Steenkamp, and included other senior government officials  and representatives from the Commonwealth Secretariat

By Thanisa Naidu-Lewin, Counsellor (Multilaterals), South African High Commission to the UK.  

Blog by Munim Mubashshir, Member (Student Representative), Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Commission, Bangladesh

"Breaking the cycle of violence is a necessity. Otherwise, there will be no society left to be governed." This was a stark warning from Rev Dr James Movel Wuye, one of the joint winners of the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize.

Around 100 young leaders from across Bangladesh have pledged to champion the values of the Commonwealth Charter, following a two-day workshop in Dhaka from 23 to 24 June 2025.

Over 90 young professionals, including delegates from Canada, India, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom, joined Ministers of Health and heads of international development agencies to address challenges in the health sector.

In March, the Commonwealth Youth Programme celebrated the achievements of young people while building their capacity to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of society.

The 9th Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development, co-hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Sport, saw two strong teams of experts debate the merits of traditional and modern sport. Both sides agreed that sport has tremendous potential to unite and inspire communities. 

Traditional sports and games will be pitted against the increased interest in modern competition at the 9th Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development, to be held on Wednesday, 26 March 2025.

Stanley Chidubem Anigbogu from Nigeria has clinched the overall title of 2025 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year at the annual Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work, held in London on Wednesday, 12 March 2025.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) celebrated its 65th anniversary at the annual Connect and Collaborate event at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London. Since 1960, the CSC has funded over 31,000 people from across the Commonwealth to study at UK universities.

Twenty extraordinary young individuals, including social entrepreneurs, climate advocates, innovators, and community health champions from across the Commonwealth, have been shortlisted for the 2025 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.

Throughout the week-long Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance (CAYA) Summit and the Asia Regional Youth Ministers Meeting in Pakistan, more than 200 delegates from across Asia participated in intergenerational panel discussions, cultural activities, and training workshops designed to empower and position them for greater success.

A summit for young leaders in Asia has ended with strong recommendations to empower young people and promote their active participation in policymaking.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is deepening its partnership with the CARICOM Secretariat on youth mainstreaming and youth statistics.

In March 2025, a group of extraordinary young people will have the opportunity to receive support from the Commonwealth Secretariat. They will be chosen as the 20 finalists for the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.