The Power of Youth: Celebrating International Youth Day

by Meet Sijariya, Asst. Lead- Partnerships & Stakeholders, CYCN

The power of youth is the common wealth for the entire world. The faces of young people are the faces of our past, present, and future. No segment in society can match the power, idealism, enthusiasm and courage of the young people.

Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi

Every August 12, the world comes together to mark International Youth Day, to recognise and celebrate young people. With over 60 per cent of the population under 30, youth leadership is central to the Commonwealth’s development.

Young people are pushing boundaries, shaping narratives, and delivering solutions with remarkable speed. Increased access to knowledge, digital tools, and global networks has empowered youth to lead in innovative ways.  Youth are proving that impact has no minimum age. The climate justice campaigns led by 17-year-old Nkosilathi Nyathi from Zimbabwe, or the launch of AI integrated hardware device by 18-year-old Aaryan Kushwaha in India, or the rise of youth parliamentarians in Ghana, India, Jamaica and the United Kingdom, Commonwealth youth are driving development trajectories.

Through platforms like the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) and the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network (CYCN), youth are leading on policies and programmes that impact millions. Landmark initiatives such as the Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) – held alongside Heads of Government Meetings – and regional Youth Dialogues offer structured, institutional space for youth-led impact to flourish.

Lucia Ene-Lesikar, Chairperson of CYCN:

“CYCN is more than just a network – it’s a powerful platform for our young people across the 56 Commonwealth countries to shape the future we want to see. CYCN gives us a seat at the table, and the tools, knowledge, and collective power to advocate for a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. The Commonwealth’s Youth Climate Change Negotiations Training has equipped me with invaluable insights into how international climate negotiations function–and more importantly, how young people can meaningfully engage in them. Understanding the systems and structures behind change is the first step toward transforming them.”

The World We Inherited… and the One We Must Rebuild

We have inherited a world in distress with glaciers melting, sea levels rising, global temperatures crossing the 1.5°C threshold. The global climate financing debate remains stuck in geopolitics – a debate between the Global North and the Global South, with questions of who pays, who pollutes, and who acts, while the Earth waits for solutions, not blame games.

We need to collaborate to mitigate the impacts of climate change. For instance, Hurricane Beryl, which devastated parts of the Caribbean in 2024, witnessed youth leaders from the region coordinate local relief, organise climate awareness campaigns, and push for adaptation funding. The Commonwealth team also worked directly with Grenada’s Prime Minister, supporting climate messaging that highlighted the resilience and demands of affected communities. The region’s young voices were central to reframing the climate crisis as both urgent and unjust.

Intergeneration and international collaboration will drive sustainable solutions for our planet and people. The Commonwealth is diverse and that is our strength. Empowering young people through capacity building trainings and including them in decision-making will advance youth development and engagement.

Bodh Maathura, Vice-Chair, CYCN:

“In a youth advocate’s journey, one of the biggest strengths is having strategic allies, and the Commonwealth has been one of the biggest champions for young people. From supporting youth to attend High Level Forums like COP29 and creating a space to conduct intergenerational dialogue, to having the convening power to bring senior policymakers to the same table as young people for open and candid discussion. Commonwealth support enabled us to communicate and amplify the voices of youth calling for more ambitious NDCs that are developed with young people, sensitive to our needs, and giving us specific roles within them.”

Investing in youth will accelerate the development trajectories of Commonwealth states. Youth leadership is crucial for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future. This includes direct investment in youth-led organisations, platforms, and social enterprises; genuine representation in decision-making processes.

Chevaughn Brown,Co-ordinator, CYCN highlights:

“At CYCN, we aim to equip Commonwealth youth with the skills and resources needed to lead effectively across all five regions – UK & Canada, Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Asia. We do this through a range of capacity-building initiatives, including:

• The Commonwealth E-Learning Platform, where members can access interest-based courses and receive certifications.
• Workshops and training on practical topics like project design and concept note writing.
• Webinars on key issues such as climate justice, often in partnership with other Commonwealth youth networks.”

This International Youth Day, let’s move beyond applause. Let’s reimagine power structures, build equitable partnerships, and trust young people to lead.