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.
The Commonwealth Secretariat’s youth development work is delivered through the Commonwealth Youth Programme, which has been supporting member countries for over 40 years.
In Commonwealth Youth Work Week each year we acknowledge and accord due recognition the critical role of youth workers, and re-emphasise collective Commonwealth commitment to working alongside young people through government and other agencies on action to advance youth inclusion and empowerment.
The Commonwealth Secretariat is supporting a Jamaican initiative to get young people in the Caribbean more involved in politics.
Five years ago more than 40 babies born in Jamaican hospitals became infected with lethal bacteria - half of them died. The situation caught the attention of Jamaican technology student Rayvon Stewart who set about finding a way to curb the spread of harmful germs.
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?
Four outstanding young people have won Commonwealth Youth Awards for innovative projects that are delivering sustainable development in their countries.
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.