UK (Commonwealth Union)_ The declaration of 2023 as the Commonwealth Year of Youth at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda initiated a series of impactful initiatives aimed at empowering young people. The decision to extend the Year of Youth until the next CHOGM in October 2024 was made during the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting (CYMM) in London, with a focus on ensuring sustained and maximum impact. To accompany this extension, a new logo has been introduced, and a series of videos have been published to support the renewed vision for the extended program.
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The Commonwealth Leaders’ initial emphasis on empowering young people, elevating their concerns among stakeholders and governments, and accelerating progress on youth-focused issues has remained a central theme throughout the Year of Youth. Concurrently marking the 50th anniversary of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), which supports member countries in youth development work, this initiative gained further momentum with the extension until CHOGM 2024.
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Layne Robinson, Head of Social Policy Development at the Commonwealth Secretariat, expressed pride in the achievements of 2023, highlighting that the extension provides an opportunity to leave a more lasting legacy and reach an even broader audience of young people. He stated, “While we are proud of what we have achieved during 2023, the extension of the Year of the Youth until the next CHOGM will allow us to leave a more lasting legacy and reach even more young people. We thank the leaders across the Commonwealth for giving us this opportunity to work with them to deliver even more effectively and significantly for the young people we serve.”
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Further, acknowledging the vital role of young people in the Commonwealth’s future success, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC emphasized the commitment to investing in and promoting their development and engagement at various levels. She stated, “The Commonwealth’s future success rests with them. So here today, we commit to investing in and promoting their development and engagement at community, regional, national, and pan-Commonwealth levels throughout this year and beyond.”
Throughout the Year of Youth, pan-Commonwealth initiatives have flourished, encompassing the relaunch of the YourCommonwealth website dedicated to nurturing the skills of young writers and journalists. Webinars featuring youth perspectives, sporting activities, and a supplement in The Voice, a British newspaper with a significant readership in the African and Caribbean diaspora, have further amplified the voice of youth advocates. Further, notable events such as the Commonwealth edition of Kenya Innovation Week, the 4th Commonwealth Conference on Youth Work, and the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work have prominently featured the Year of Youth.
Additionally, March witnessed a two-week youth network summit that brought together leaders from across Commonwealth youth networks, fostering skill development and facilitating the exchange of ideas. A pivotal aspect of ongoing efforts involves partnerships, such as the collaboration with technology giant Intel, which aims to provide online training in artificial intelligence (AI) for thousands of young people through the AI for Youth program. This initiative enables the development of skills in AI-related fields and emphasizes social skills like problem-solving, AI ethics, and security, contributing to the overarching goal of empowering and preparing the youth for the challenges ahead.
