Latest content: Society and young people

The election process concluded on 18 September 2024 with keen participation from youth delegates across the 56 Commonwealth member countries.

As the race for the keenly contested Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) executive elections intensifies, the CYC electoral board has shortlisted 48 candidates to compete for ten seats on the council.

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Youth Work. The awards recognise the invaluable contribution of young people aged 15-29 and acknowledge their achievements towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On 12 August 2024, the Commonwealth Secretariat celebrated youth achievements and contributions to a peaceful society at a time when conflict, climate change and digital exclusion have exacerbated inequalities among 1.2 billion young people aged 15-24 years globally.

On 12 August, youth leaders across the Commonwealth converged for the 10th anniversary of the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC). Celebrated on International Youth Day, the event featured addresses from representatives of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), which has empowered and supported young people for the last 50 years. 

Today, the Commonwealth Secretariat and Cambridge University’s Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development (CRSD) unveiled the final report for "Their Future, Our Action and the COMPASS Model: A New Approach to Finance in Commonwealth Small Island Developing States," introducing the innovative Common Pool Asset Structuring Strategy (COMPASS).

On 12 August 2024, representatives from youth, peace-building, community, civil society, faith, and advocacy organisations will participate in a series of events and an online broadcast featuring young people doing extraordinary projects, sharing inspiring stories and opportunities for young people to get involved with transformational initiatives.

Nominations are now open for young leaders to be nominated for executive positions for the 2024-2026 Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC).

As part of efforts to advance global health targets, Commonwealth young leaders have concluded a critical three-day summit in London with the launch of two key initiatives: the Commonwealth Young Health Leaders Fellowship and the Commonwealth Leadership Institute (Health).

Young people who play leading roles throughout society in Eswatini, have been learning how values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter can empower them to become ambassadors for democracy, peace, and sustainable development in their communities.

As we bring out our new report, “The price of inaction: The global private, fiscal and social costs of children and youth not learning,” we are alarmed over the looming financial costs of children not attending or leaving school early and not acquiring basic skills, such as literacy and numeracy. At the same time, we can see the massive benefits of investing in education across the globe and the huge gains from achieving the education Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4) of inclusive and equitable education for all.

Commonwealth educational ministers come together to build a brighter future for Commonwealth youth.

The Global Children and Youth Action Summit (GCYAS) has concluded with a powerful call to action from young people from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), urging world leaders to address critical issues such as education, climate change, healthcare, and poverty. The Summit, held at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus in Antigua from May 24-26, is followed by the Fourth UN Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) Conference from May 27-30.

As climate change continues to cast a long shadow over the world, a silent crisis is unfolding in classrooms worldwide.

Blog by Fariba Soetan, Head of Policy and Research at the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).

As 13 nations across the Commonwealth head to the ballot box this year, and families, parents and citizens consider their priorities for the ensuing decade, attention turns towards the global effort to tackle world challenges, outlined in the UN sustainable development goals and slated for achievement by 2030 and beyond.

Education ministers and senior officials will converge in London for the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (22CCEM) meeting from May 16-17, 2024. The meeting will discuss ways to further empower 2.6 billion Commonwealth citizens, with inclusive and equitable learning opportunities for all skill levels and life stages.

Blog by Samara Ali, Commonwealth Youth Correspondent

Sixty Commonwealth young leaders have concluded a landmark Summit in Malaysia with the inauguration of the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance (CAYA), which an interim steering committee of the young leaders will drive.

Stakeholders across the Commonwealth have called for increased multisectoral collaboration to implement the Commonwealth Youth-led NCD Guiding Framework – a blueprint that addresses the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in Commonwealth countries.