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Twenty young people are in the running for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards in recognition of their efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their communities.
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Twenty young people are in the running for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards in recognition of their efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their communities.
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Meet the finalists for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards
Twenty-three young people have been selected to serve on an international taskforce that will lead the planning and delivery of the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda.
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23 young leaders selected for 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum International Taskforce
Sixty per cent of the Commonwealth’s 2.7 billion people are younger than 30 years old. Meaningful access to development and policy processes is a critical way to ensure that young people’s unique perspectives and ideas are heard and included in decision-making, and negotiation skills is a core building block.
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Commonwealth trains young leaders in multilateral negotiations
Four-time Olympic gold medallist joins Commonwealth Ministers of Health, WHO, Nike, ASICS and United for Global Mental Health in Geneva to make the evidence-based case for sport and physical activity as a key focus of youth mental health policy.
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"Sport is essential for mental health" – Sir Mo Farah leads evidence-based call at World Health Assembly side event co-hosted by the Commonwealth and WFSGI
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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Commonwealth report warns that crippling public debt prevents investing in young people
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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Statement by the Commonwealth Secretariat on the postponement of the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards ceremony
25 June 2026 to 25 June 2026
(BST)
Event
Join us on 25 June 2026 as we announce the winners of the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work in London.
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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Commonwealth unveils 20 regional finalists for 2026 Youth Awards
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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Public Debt and Youth Development in Commonwealth Member Countries
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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Commonwealth conference upholds youth work as a catalyst for social change
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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Sharp focus on Commonwealth youth development during task force meeting in Malaysia
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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Malaysia’s graceful welcome for 2025 Commonwealth youth meetings
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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Commonwealth summits in Malaysia to advance critical support for young people
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.
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.
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.
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 Start-up Fellowship: A launchpad for sustainable youth entrepreneurship
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 Awards introduces a new category honouring young champions of media freedom
‘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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Commonwealth Youth Award winners making impact that matters
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.
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.
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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Strides made in improving mental health to empower Africa’s youth
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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Fostering youth leadership in arts and health across the 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: How creativity, the arts and youth leadership can contribute to a healthier Commonwealth
By Cynthia Nyongesa, Assistant Research Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Rule of Law Section
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Blog: Youth experiences should shape policy on decriminalising poverty