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
Throughout August, the Commonwealth Secretariat is celebrating the extraordinary role that young people as agents of change, leaders, and mobilisers in promoting development These celebrations centre around International Youth Day (IYD) on 12 August 2025, a day when the world acknowledges the vital role of youth leaders, amplifies their voices and achievements, and focuses on creating an environment that empowers them to reach their full potential.
IYD 2025 is significant because it marks 10 years since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, launched in 2015. A series of events has been rolled out by the Commonwealth Secretariat, in collaboration with like-minded partners, to mark this International Youth Day.
The 2030 Agenda, which encompasses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is part of the UN’s global initiative to coordinate action to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people can enjoy peace and prosperity.
Youth dialogue in Namibia
From 04 - 08 August 2025, 250 young leaders, policy makers, and stakeholders gathered in Windhoek, Namibia, for the inaugural Youth Leadership Consultative Dialogue.
The event was organised by the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) and hosted by the Government of Namibia. The CYC is an independent body, supported by the Secretariat, that is the official representative voice of the 1.6 billion young people in the Commonwealth.
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In her address at the CYC event, Namibia's Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, the Hon Sanet Steenkamp said:
“Let this Dialogue be remembered for its purpose. For the meaningful relationships it ignites, the policy shifts it inspires, and the belief it affirms that young people across the Commonwealth are not just ready to lead, they are already doing so.
"We anticipate a forward-looking, youth-informed Windhoek Declaration, one that reflects lived experiences, real aspirations, and implementable actions”.
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The event was streamed live on the ministry’s Facebook channel. The Chair of the CYC, Joshua Opey, highlighted the importance of reimagining youth leadership and developing strategies to promote global youth agendas. He said:
“Amid rapidly changing dynamics which continue to worsen the challenges young people face and in the face of growing concern for the future of young people globally from rising unemployment rates, mental health issues, the climate crises among others, you will agree with me that this should be a time where we increase resource allocation to youth-led organisations like the CYC to put youths at the fore of driving change.”
Other youth-led engagements across the Commonwealth include:
- 10 August: A pre-summit webinar, featuring the work of the Commonwealth Youth Programme, will take place ahead of the Model Commonwealth Summit 2025. The summit will take place in Accra, Ghana, from 18-20 September, and will bring together young leaders from across the Commonwealth to discuss strategies to solve pressing challenges facing young people.
- 12 August: A digital broadcast, Commonwealth Youth Spotlight, will highlight the achievements of past winners of the Commonwealth Youth Awards, spotlighting young visionaries making a difference in their communities, and launch the call for nominations for the 2026 awards. This edition of the awards is being staged in partnership with the Commonwealth Association.
- 12 August: The Commonwealth Secretariat is participating in the official UN observance of International Youth Day, which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in collaboration with UN-Habitat and UN DESA. The event will connect youth voices from all continents, including representatives from the 56 Commonwealth member countries.
- 22 August: The London Youth Art Health Summit, to be held at Marlborough House, the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, will provide an innovative platform for youth engagement in the arts and wellbeing.
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Commenting on the long-standing commitment to supporting young leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers, the Head of Social Policy Development at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Layne Robinson, said:
“The Commonwealth’s commitment to empowering young people runs deep. For over half a century, the Commonwealth Youth Programme has continued to energise, uplift, and amplify youth voices, recognising their role as innovators, advocates, and leaders. By investing in young leaders, youth-led initiatives and platforms, the Commonwealth ensures that young people are not merely participants but essential partners in shaping policies and driving progress”.
This year’s IYD events build upon over 50 years of the Commonwealth Youth Programme’s support for young people.
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