Youth | Commonwealth

For more information contact our Youth team

Main page for this area of work

Young leaders from Bangladesh, Grenada, Samoa, Sierra Leone and UK win 2021 Commonwealth Youth Awards

Five young people have been named regional winners for the Commonwealth Youth Awards for their exceptional work on promoting clean energy, good health, food security and quality education. The awards recognise the contributions of young people whose projects are transforming lives in their communities and helping achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Read news

2021 Commonwealth Youth Awards ceremony

Event

The winners of the annual Commonwealth Youth Awards will be announced on 10 March. The ceremony will take place during Commonwealth Week and will be held virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Twenty finalists from 18 countries are up for five regional awards. Of the five regional winners, one outstanding young person will become the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2021.

View event

Nominations open for young people to join Commonwealth Youth Council

Nominations are open for young leaders to apply to stand for positions on the Commonwealth Youth Council, the body which represents the Commonwealth’s 1.4 billion young people.

Read news

3rd Open-Ended Working Group Meeting: Model Indicators on Sport and SDGs

The 3rd Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group on Model Indicators on Sport and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was held as a virtual forum on 2-3 December 2020. The meeting was delivered by the Commonwealth Secretariat, working with UNESCO and UNDESA as meeting hosts.

Read news

Opinion: Commonwealth Secretary-General says Covid-19 threatens girls’ access to education

To mark Human Rights Day, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland writes about the need for legislation and policies to ensure that wherever possible girls remain in school. Girls generally experience more barriers to education than their male counterparts, and this has been exacerbated yet further by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read news

Blog: How young people are leading the march towards peace and security

From Fiango Kumba in the South West region of Cameroon to Mumius Kakamega county in Western Kenya, two different but interwoven stories emerge of young people committed to ensuring peace in their communities and beyond.

Read news

Blog: How sport can fight gender-based violence

The Commonwealth advocates sport as a vehicle for development and peacebuilding. Given its popularity and unequivocal prominence in the rich tapestry of the Commonwealth’s heritage, sport has huge potential to drive social change – and accelerate gender equality – across member states.

Read news

Commonwealth Action Series on protecting planet amid stalled climate change momentum

2 December 2020 to 2 December 2020

Event

Youth activists as young as nine will join a momentous session on protecting the planet at a time when global climate talks are put on ice.

View event

Blog: We need ‘one-stop’ crisis centres to rescue women trapped in cycles of abuse

Today, many women and girls are trapped in cycles of abuse, struggling to find an escape route. This is a tragedy, not just for them personally, but for the whole of society.

Read news

Commonwealth Secretary-General: Take a stand for no more violence against women and girls

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed on 25 November every year. It launches 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence until Human Rights Day on 10 December.

Read news

OPINION: Young people must play a role in political leadership and decision-making

Young people around the world are waking up to a growing list of new and harsh realities. Trapped in the shadow of a relentless pandemic, many are being robbed of the usual opportunities of youth and denied even the chance to socialise with friends and family.

Read news

Secretary-General opens innovation awards for sustainable development

A Commonwealth prize recognising the most impactful innovations in sustainable development has been launched by the Secretary-General.

Read news

Commonwealth’s ambitions for supporting youth work sector

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.

Read news

Commonwealth Action Series: Episode five on youth leadership in decision-making

Event

Young people will host the fifth episode of the Commonwealth Action Series to discuss ways to challenge the status quo and secure a voice in decision-making.

View event

Event for young peace ambassadors: The Power of Youth to Build Peace in the Commonwealth

Event

The Commonwealth Secretariat Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Unit in partnership with the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (CYPAN), is pleased to announce an upcoming event, entitled The Power of Youth to Build Peace in the Commonwealth.

View event

Caribbean youth workers laud support from ‘eye-opening’ Commonwealth training

Nearly two hundred frontline youth workers have boosted their skills and effectiveness with training from the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Read news

Get involved with Youth Work Week in November

2 November 2020 to 6 November 2020

Event

Youth workers today face tough and ever-increasing demands, supporting a population burdened with the multiplying and intensifying challenges of unemployment, pandemic, conflict and climate change.

View event

Applications open for youth to lead action on global challenges across Commonwealth

Young people can now apply for key positions to spearhead youth-led action on pressing global challenges across the Commonwealth.

Read news

Commonwealth Youth Action Series: Episode three on technology and innovation

Event

On 17 September 2020, a panel of game-changing innovators will lead the third episode of the Commonwealth Youth Action Series.

View event

Applications open for Commonwealth youth to lead on human rights and democracy

Applications are open for eight young people to lead the charge in protecting and promoting human rights across the Commonwealth.

Read news

Political calling for young people in the Caribbean

The Commonwealth Secretariat is supporting a Jamaican initiative to get young people in the Caribbean more involved in politics.

Read news

The Commonwealth’s vision for youth engagement

The year 2020 has been challenging for young people. The COVID-19 pandemic has created new threats and exacerbated existing challenges and barriers

Read news

Commonwealth Youth Awards 2021 open for entries

Exceptional young people can now submit entries for the 2021 Commonwealth youth awards to win prestigious titles and cash grants. The awards recognise and reward young people whose work has made a major impact on people and communities in their country.

Read news

Ministers welcome Commonwealth interventions to rebuild hard-hit sport sector

Commonwealth collaboration is vital to the recovery of the sport sector which has suffered a crushing blow from essential measures to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Read news

Commonwealth to unveil ‘4D strategy’ on reviving sport at ministerial forum

A four-dimensional strategy will be unveiled at a major ministerial forum tomorrow, to help governments sustain the sport sector ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read news

Latest content: Youth