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  • Promoting youth empowerment

    Young people have a proven capability to lead change, and are a vital and valuable investment for now and the future

  • Youth Ministers Meetings

    Four-yearly Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meetings, including a Youth Leaders Forum assist member countries with the development of policy and the sharing of good practices.

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  • Youth Networks

    The Commonwealth Secretariat places special emphasis on supporting young people to design and drive youth-led initiatives

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  • Youth Awards

    The Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work celebrate young people from Asia, the Pacific, the Caribbean and Americas, Africa and Europe

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  • Sport for Development and Peace

    The Commonwealth Secretariat advocates for sport to be used as a vehicle for peace and development

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Youth

The Commonwealth’s 54 member countries have a combined population of more than 2 billion, of which more than 60% are under 30 years of age.

The Commonwealth sees young people aged 15-29 as assets to a country’s development who should be empowered to realise their potential.

Young people have a proven capability to lead change, and are a vital and valuable investment for now and the future.

Commonwealth Youth Programme

The Commonwealth Secretariat’s youth development work is delivered through the Commonwealth Youth Programme, which has been supporting member countries for over 40 years.

Engaging and recognising young people

  • We support the effective participation of young women and men in development processes and promote their engagement at all levels of decision-making, including with Heads of Government.
  • We showcase and celebrate the achievements of young people in driving democracy and development, to demonstrate their capabilities and inspire further action.

Supporting member governments

  • We provide technical assistance for national and regional youth policies and create youth development frameworks, guidelines and tools.
  • We advocate for increased investments in youth ministries and programmes. 

Professionalising youth work

  • We promote the professionalisation of youth work by supporting youth work education and training and setting competency standards.
  • We celebrate good practice and advocate for national and international youth worker associations.

Your chance to join the Commonwealth Youth Council Elected executive members of the 2018-2020 Commonwealth Youth Council at The Commonwealth Youth Forum 2018 in London

The nomination deadline has been extended for 9 youth leaders to represent the Commonwealth’s 1.4 billion young people on the Commonwealth Youth Council. Have you got what it takes?

Young leaders from Canada, Fiji, Pakistan and Uganda win Commonwealth Youth Awards 2020 4 regional winners of the Commonwealth Youth Awards 2020

Four outstanding young people have won Commonwealth Youth Awards for innovative projects that are delivering sustainable development in their countries.

Apply to attend the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Rwanda Announcement of Commonwealth Youth Forum in Kigali, Rwanda

Young people can now apply to attend the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Rwanda this June. The forum will take place in Kigali from 20 to 23 June 2020.

Commonwealth Secretary-General visits Uttar Pradesh Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland with a group of people at a school with children in India

On her visit to India, the Commonwealth Secretary-General travelled to the city of Gorakhpur in India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh. She took part in the launch of the Out of School Children Project, and attended the country’s first ever Sustainable Development Goals Choupal.

‘Work with us,’ young leaders urge leaders following London meeting Youth participants at Commonwealth Futures meeting

Young people have asked Commonwealth leaders to work with them in developing innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

Month-long special effort to help young people in Africa Group photo at Commonwealth Senior Youth Officials Meeting

African countries will spend this month giving special impetus to improving the lives of millions of young people. Beginning with Africa Youth Day on 1st November, the African Union member states, including the 19 Commonwealth countries, will focus on providing opportunities for young people in the areas of Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Engagement, known as the 4Es.

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