Youth | Commonwealth

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Commonwealth report warns that crippling public debt prevents investing in young people

A new report by the Commonwealth Secretariat warns that rising public debt and tighter budgets are forcing governments to prioritise loan repayments over investment in young people, limiting opportunities for the Commonwealth’s 1.5 billion young people.

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Statement by the Commonwealth Secretariat on the postponement of the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards ceremony

The following statement was issued today by the Commonwealth Secretariat on the postponement of the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work Ceremony in London.

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Commonwealth unveils 20 regional finalists for 2026 Youth Awards

Twenty outstanding young people from the five regions across the Commonwealth have been shortlisted as finalists for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.

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Public Debt and Youth Development in Commonwealth Member Countries

How can countries navigate fiscal pressures while still nurturing the potential of their young people? How can we design economic frameworks that are both responsive today and transformative for tomorrow? This publication draws on the latest findings from the Commonwealth Youth Development Index to offer a clear, data-driven picture of where progress is being made – and where it is at risk.

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Commonwealth conference upholds youth work as a catalyst for social change

As the curtain closed on the 5th Global Youth Work Conference (GYWC2025) in Kuala Lumpur, the sense of possibility remained in the air—resonating through the lively conversations of delegates as they packed away their notes and said their goodbyes.

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Sharp focus on Commonwealth youth development during task force meeting in Malaysia

The 10th Commonwealth Youth Ministerial Task Force Meeting brought together senior officials from youth ministries on 16 November, ahead of the 5th Global Youth Work Conference 2025

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Malaysia’s graceful welcome for 2025 Commonwealth youth meetings

Arriving in Malaysia, you are immediately enveloped in the warmth and hospitality for which the country is renowned. Visitors are greeted with gracious smiles and respectful bows, offering an introduction to the country’s cultural ethos. This welcoming spirit extends seamlessly beyond points of arrival, resonating throughout all aspects of Malaysian society—particularly in the nation’s dedication to its youth.

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Commonwealth summits in Malaysia to advance critical support for young people

Next week, the Commonwealth will host two flagship meetings in Malaysia focused on supporting young people and the professionals who work with them to reach their full potential.

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Volunteering for change: The Ghanaian youth champion inspiring others

Samuel Gariba’s youth advocacy story begins in the bustling neighbourhoods in Kumasi, where he was inspired by the potential he saw in his peers, but recognised the lack of opportunities for young people to express themselves and make positive change.

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5th Global Youth Work Conference 2025

Commonwealth youth ministers, youth leaders, and youth work practitioners gathered in Malaysia for the 5th Global Youth Work Conference 2025 (GYWC2025) from 17 to 19 November, at the International Youth Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

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Webinar: Capacity-building for young people on the building blocks for climate finance

28 October 2025 to 28 October 2025

(GMT)

Webinar

Young people are increasingly recognised as vital agents of change in advancing climate action. This means including them in climate-policy decision-making and implementation. However, many young people - particularly in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other climate-vulnerable countries - continue to face barriers such as limited access to climate finance, insufficient green skills, and exclusion from decision-making processes.

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Commonwealth Start-up Fellowship: A launchpad for sustainable youth entrepreneurship

A large portion of the Commonwealth’s population, approximately 60 per cent, is currently under 30. With such a young demographic, there is an urgent need to equip them with the skills, especially entrepreneurial skills, to succeed.

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Commonwealth Youth Awards introduces a new category honouring young champions of media freedom

Young communications professionals are being encouraged to apply for a special new award within the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards. The inaugural Patsy Robertson Award for Outstanding Communications Skills in Advancing Community Development and Peace is being included as an additional prize this year.

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Commonwealth Youth Award winners making impact that matters

‘An amazing leap’ is how one winner of the Commonwealth Youth Award for Excellence in Development Work described the positive impact the prize had on the trajectory of his work. Far too many young people are impacted by the world’s multifaceted challenges, including climate change, conflict, inequity, unemployment and poverty.

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Peace Webinar Series: Peace beyond borders: Youth-led Extended Reality (XR) for interfaith harmony

20 September 2025 to 20 September 2025

(BST)

Webinar

Join us online for the third edition of the Commonwealth Faith Festival Peace Talks.

This monthly webinar series brings together young changemakers and established leaders to exchange ideas, stories and strategies about minority rights, youth mental health and peacebuilding.

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Strides made in improving mental health to empower Africa’s youth

Good mental health is a symptom of thriving and resilient communities and an enabler of development. Yet, across the world, a silent crisis is growing, and it particularly affects our young people.

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Fostering youth leadership in arts and health across the Commonwealth

As part of activities to commemorate International Youth Day, over 120 young artists, performers, community activists, social workers, and visionaries gathered for the Young Leaders for Arts and Health Summit at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London.

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Blog: How creativity, the arts and youth leadership can contribute to a healthier Commonwealth

By Kunle Adewale, Founder of Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship, Ayesha Ali, Coordinator, Commonwealth Youth Health Network, Emily Gilmour, Health Officer and Karina Gosalia, Health Research Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Health Section

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Blog: Youth experiences should shape policy on decriminalising poverty

By Cynthia Nyongesa, Assistant Research Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Rule of Law Section

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Young people at the Secretariat empowered to drive transformative change

On International Youth Day, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, began her workday by hosting an intimate breakfast with a cross-section of young people working at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

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London Youth Art Health Summit 2025

22 August 2025 to 22 August 2025

(BST)

Event

Join us for a global gathering of young innovators, academics, creatives and policymakers, shaping the future of health through the arts, culture and creativity.

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Shining a spotlight on youth achievements for International Youth Day

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.

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Nominations for 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards open on International Youth Day

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.

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Commonwealth provides technical assistance to boost Esports across Pakistan

Pakistan’s gaming and app development ecosystem has been growing rapidly, with locally-produced apps recording a compound annual growth rate of 32% in global downloads between 2018 and 2023.

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Celebrating Commonwealth youth’s contributions towards achieving a better and fairer world

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

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