Legislation setting the voting age creates a conflict for potential voters, writes Angelique Pouponneau, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from the Seychelles, who argues the rules should make more effort to enfranchise interested youth. It happens in nightclubs all the time: “ID please,” says the bouncer. If you are below the age of 18 you should …
Gabriel Antwi, 23, a Correspondent from Ghana, talks to Miss Lugu, a student of University of Ghana who dreams of being an entrepreneur. She has started on that path with a venture on campus, selling coconut on a wholesale and retail basis. Gabriel: What is the name of your business? Lugu: The name of my business …
By Martin Chemhere For most youth-owned businesses in the Commonwealth Southern African community, access to finance, a united voice to seek support together, ease of doing business amongst the respective countries, are still challenging and bureaucratic. Compounding this outlook is a shortage of accelerator or incubation initiatives necessary to enable specific trade amongst the member countries. …
Sports offers a means of addressing Nigeria’s social and development challenges, writes Olajide Salawu, 23, a Correspondent from Shao-Ilorin in Nigeria, who looks at unity that followed 1996 Olympic gold as a model for ways to create peace and build opportunity. In a geographical entity with various ethnic groups such as Nigeria, challenges for individual and national …
Bangladesh has the same branches of governance as other countries, but Naim Ebna Rahman, 20, a Correspondent from Dhaka in Bangladesh, notes complexities have endured since 1971. He looks at some of the reasons, and recommends how to strengthen those branches. After emerging as an independent nation, several military coups from 1975 to 1995 interrupted the …
Developing a healthy sense of self is a necessary part of life’s journey, writes Brenda McWilson, 22, a Correspondent from Nigeria and studying in Canada, who says the first step is to avoid comparisons with others. Some people need to embark on a journey of self-recovery and metanoia. You are a complete package and have no …
Human rights are an integral part of the values and principles of the Commonwealth as espoused in the Commonwealth Charter. The role of young people as equal partners in development is essential for sustainable development and progress. It is for this reason that the Commonwealth has for the past 40 years invested in building networks …
Problems reported Australia’s Northern Territory youth prison system are the latest to be uncovered in a string of grievances of a disappointed territory, writes Jake Elson, 22, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Bunbury in Australia. When the leading provincial newspaper uses its entire front page to call for the federal government to dismiss an entire government, …
Policing is part of good governance but Badru Walusansa, 25, a Correspondent from Kampala in Uganda, argues that strong laws and monitoring are needed to keep the balance between the police and the public it serves. One of the outstanding achievements that this government was premised upon is maintaining a police force. By far, this is …
“What if he wins?” asks Andrew Larkins, 26, a Correspondent from Australia as he looks at the impact US presidential candidate Donald Trump could have on relations with developing nations. The American presidential race is well underway. There are two candidates left standing and one question on everyone’s minds: Will the alienating billionaire figure of Donald Trump …