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.
Throughout the three-day event in Malaysia, many of the delegates reported that they had reaffirmed their commitment to advancing youth work as a vital pillar of social development, democratic participation, economic resilience and environmental sustainability across the Commonwealth.
Over three days, more than 220 youth work practitioners, government ministers, senior officials and youth leaders from across the Commonwealth gathered in Malaysia’s capital, united by a shared goal: to garner support for formalising the youth work profession.
The strength of youth work
GYWC2025, held for the first time in Asia, was co-hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Workers Association and Universiti Putra Malaysia through its Institute for Social Science Studies.
In her video message to the delegates, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, stressed the importance of youth workers. She said:
“We need youth workers who can help our young people find meaning amid uncertainty, purpose amid disruption, and courage amid complexity. Let this conference remind us that the Commonwealth’s greatest strength lies not in its size or its wealth, but in its people — in you, the youth workers who embody compassion, courage and commitment.”
Repositioning youth work in a changing world
Delegates came from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean, offering their own perspectives on political empowerment, climate action and improving the professionalisation of youth work.
Robin Lockhart, Founder and Director of Catalyst in Communities (CIC), shared a mutual learning approach to professionalise youth work across the Commonwealth’s five regions. He said:
"In a world facing increasing challenges—social, psychological, ecological, economic, and spiritual—young people stand at the crossroads between isolation and opportunity. For youth work to genuinely flourish, we need to do more than adapt; we must courageously reinvent ourselves.
"No single region has all the solutions, but by exchanging ideas and experiences, especially through youth worker exchange programmes, we unlock priceless learning."
Although there were many interesting panels and presentations, climate considerations and harnessing technology seemed to resonate powerfully. A participant from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Noor Amalina Ramle, shared a presentation on ‘Empowering the next generation: Youth knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards flood resilience in Malaysia’. A topic that resonated with the audience, and is even more pertinent as Malaysians are currently experiencing flash floods that have caused widespread disruption.
Delegates shared personal stories of youth vulnerability during climate crises, including disruption of education, psychological trauma, and limited experience working in flood-prone areas.
Other sessions buzzed with excitement during engaging panels on the future of youth work amid AI and Esports. In response to the question of whether youth work, as currently structured, would survive the digital era. Masowe Mutinta from Zambia, founder of Mcover Solution, Woman in Tech and the creator of AI CHATBOT SEREBOT, said AI is a game-changer for the profession because it is effective, efficient and enables data search and data mining.
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Chair of the panel and the Head of Social Policy Development at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Layne Robinson, captivated the audience with practical tips for harnessing digital innovation to engage youth. He said:
“For youth workers, building interactive online spaces—where young people can collaborate, exchange ideas, and develop digital projects—can transform engagement and ensure that youth not only participate but also flourish in shaping our shared future.”
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The Vice President, British Esports Federation also said:
“For me, it was all about finding that vehicle to motivate and engage young people. Through Esports, young people are developing the same skills we acknowledge in traditional sports: teamwork, leadership, communication, decision-making, problem-solving, resilience, how to win and how to lose. It is a real opportunity to include all genres of youth.”
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Actionable outcomes
The event wasn’t just about ideas—it was about action. The November conference concluded with a declaration and recommendations to invest in youth work and support the youth workers, who are the backbone of social progress. It also made an urgent appeal for governments and institutions to invest in resilient structures, safeguard youth rights and embed local wisdom in global frameworks.
In the words of one delegate, “This is the place where we became something greater—where we learnt, led and shaped the future together”.
- Read the full GYWC Declaration
- Visit the hub for the 5th Global Youth Work Conference 2025
- See photos from the Conference on Flickr
Media contact
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Ijeoma Onyeator Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
