Repealing a little-used law against homosexuality sparked a potentially divisive debate, but Angelique Pouponneau, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from the Seychelles, reports that the result was in favour of tolerance and human rights. It was announced early March in the State of the Nation address that a section of the Seychelles penal code would be repealed. The …

“Views on decriminalising homosexuality” Read More »

Security and diplomacy are global concerns, especially when conflict or disaster strikes. But Christine Shahbenderian, 23, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Nicosia in Cyprus, argues that humanitarian diplomacy has a strong role in global problem-solving. A defining feature of 21st century globalization is the increasing complexity of global relations and the rapidity with which information ricochets around …

“Humanitarian diplomacy provides vital action” Read More »

Members of the Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Working group (CYSDP) delivered several events to celebrate the 2016 International Day of Sport for Development and Peace across the Commonwealth, impacting  over 300 young leaders. Adeola Taiwo: SPYD Initiative, Nigeria A workshop was held under the theme “The role of Young People in SDP” on March 28. It …

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Environmental activists around the world recently marked Earth Day 2016, but as Harnoor Gill, 18, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Georgetown in Canada writes, the day can be marked in many ways throughout the year.  Each year, April 22nd marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970 known as Earth Day. …

“Get involved and give back to the Earth” Read More »

The world of marketing shapes our consumer choices, writes Abdullah Al Hasan, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Dhaka in Bangladesh, as he looks behind the scenes at how marketing works. Suppose you’re going to buy a product and you opt for a specific brand. Now the question is – why do you choose that brand? Maybe you …

“Marketing: it is challenging, creative and fun” Read More »

High unemployment has turned many graduates to look to their own skills and resourcefulness to create income opportunities, writes Sola Abe, 24, a Correspondent from Lagos in Nigeria. As the challenge of high unemployment continues to plague Africa’s biggest economy and most populous country, Nigerian graduates are increasingly looking away from paid employment. The number …

“Graduates focus on self-employment” Read More »

Access to information is a human right, argues Ronald Tukachungurwa, 24, a Correspondent from Kampala in Uganda, but it is also a means of solving problems and encouraging development. ‘’Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.’’ – Kofi Annan I always believe that information …

“Access to information is key to development” Read More »

Abdur Rafay Usmani, 21, a Correspondent from Karachi in Pakistan, argues that gender empowerment will not only allow the marginalised to overcome their sense of powerlessness, but will also  have a profound impact on a nation’s economy. There is a widespread misconception that gender and sex are two interchangeable terms. Sex refers to the biological characteristics …

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Years of fighting poachers and the illegal ivory trade took a very public turn, writes Brian Dan Migowe, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Kenya, with a bold government move. When you have a trove of elephant tusks lying in a warehouse somewhere, what do you do with it? According to the Kenyan president, you burn it. So …

“Kenya burns ivory to defy poachers” Read More »