(Commonwealth)_ On Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. Shirley Botchwey International Youth Day, she marked the day in a special way by beginning her working day by having breakfast with an inter-faculty group of young professionals who are employed by the Commonwealth Secretariat. The occasion, held on 12 August 2025, was not ceremonial. It reflected the organisation’s dedication to placing youth at the heart of its decision-making and long-term planning.
The Commonwealth, having two under 30 for each one over 30, is critically dependent on the ideas, energy, and imagination of young people. In line with this, the Secretary-General seized the moment to emphasise the role of the next generation of leaders in helping to shape the vision and future work of the Secretariat. The Secretariat is incorporating the comments of the participants into its five-year Strategic Plan, which will guide the organisation until 2030.
The breakfast session brought together young staff members from both the Secretariat and online, providing a forum for candid discussions. The Chief of Staff, Kwabena Osei-Danquah, also attended and provided comments on the diverse ideas presented by the participants.
The forum was impressed by how deeply some of the Secretariat’s younger staff have embraced the Commonwealth’s mission. For others, the experience began years earlier when working in the Secretariat. One of the Nigerian participants explained how his early experience in Commonwealth school clubs had shaped his career and demanded such programs be reintroduced at the member states’ universities and schools. Such interactions, in his view, would instill among the young a sense of belonging and global citizenship.
Others highlighted the necessity to re-establish youth-leadership trust. One of the participants from Kenya recommended using this opportunity to strengthen accountability and governance through greater intergenerational discourse. She illustrated that when leaders listen to the youth and allow them to participate in policymaking, it strengthens the pillars of democratic resilience.
Use of technology was also highlighted. A political affairs officer referred to the extent to which the secretariat can use social media and artificial intelligence to interact with youth better. By increasing its web presence, the organisation would be better equipped to interact with youth via diverse platforms, leading to increased participation in policymaking and activities.
The activity also made room for expression. A staff member from the Communications Division read a poem, reflecting on life as a double identity in Pakistan’s brotherhood and the worlds. The presentation was one of the diverse riches of experiences young professionals bring to the Secretariat, enriching its work with wisdom seasoned by individual journeys across borders and cultures.
The participants also discussed the topic of climate action. One of the participants from Ghana in the Secretariat’s Climate Change department spoke of the impact of the Young Professionals program, which provides direct work experience and an opportunity to work on new projects. He proposed increasing the number of youths under the programme and providing them an opportunity to intern in diplomatic environments as a way of leveraging their contribution towards addressing the challenges of the world.
A clear message emerged from the breakfast: the youth within the Commonwealth Secretariat are not only eager to contribute, but they are also actively shaping the direction of the organisation. Their suggestions reflected how the Secretariat could learn from their experience and accelerate action in governance, climate resilience, communication, and outreach in communities.
The mainstreaming of these ideas within the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan by the Secretary-General is a watershed in youth participation. The Secretariat’s youth specialists are now being recognised as credible stakeholders in present decision-making, rather than being viewed solely for their potential as future leaders. In ensuring that they retain their voices as central to planning, the Commonwealth is going in the right direction to remain relevant and responsive to the interests of the 56 member states.
