Attempting to solve the complex issues in modern society can be a daunting task, but Navodinee Wickramanayake, 22, a Correspondent from Sri Lanka, describes one woman’s efforts to provide inspiration and support to those trying to make a difference.  Often times we look at the issues our society faces today and become overwhelmed by their complexity …

“A new social innovation for change makers” Read More »

The news media has a vital role as both a conduit and a filter of the news, writes Ibrahim Olalekan, 27, a Correspondent from Abuja in Nigeria, who argues the news media must exercise responsibility and standards in fulfilling that role. McQuail (2005) says that the term “gatekeeping” has been widely used as a metaphor to describe …

“Gate keeping in the Nigerian media” Read More »

The invaluable resources of internet have become increasingly accessible, but as Badru Walusansa, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Kampala in Uganda writes, that fact poses a double-edged dilemma for parents of young children. The world has gone digital, and every one can now connect to the internet through the new wave of smart phones. In 2011, …

“Taming the internet risk for modern parents” Read More »

There have been many promises on the issue of universal education, but as Musa Temidayo, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Nigeria writes, many of those commitments have not been met. Combined with ongoing conflict, the result threatens the goal of education for the world’s children.  Education has emerged to be on the frontiers of major …

“Broken promises mean education is at risk” Read More »

Many youth are competing for jobs or making ends meet as entrepreneurs, writes Carole Nyemeck, 23, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Cameroon, who reports there is a significant pool of social innovation talent. She looks at the business models needed to transform societal problems into sustainable entrepreneurial innovations. Since the beginning of the capitalist era, business models have clung …

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Elections around the globe have made news this year, and Debra Grace Lim Jia-En, 16, a Correspondent from Malaysia, explains why it is crucial that everyone who has a vote uses his or her right to cast a ballot.  This year, the subject of voting has been intensely discussed globally. This unceasing international hype will certainly come …

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Courts and lawyers are the platforms and providers of justice, writes Sugandha Parmar, 22, a Correspondent in Kanpur, India, but globally,  justice for the poor is very different from justice for others.  Prof. Mohan Gopal, director of the National Judicial Academy, says that anywhere in the world, poor and middle class hardly get justice. I recently …

“Reforming justice to assist the poor” Read More »

Youthful enthusiasm and activism have a powerful role to play in Nigeria, according to a former Secretary General of the Commonwealth. As Sola Abe, 24, a Correspondent from Lagos in Nigeria reports, youth engagement can help Nigeria restructure for positive social change. In commemoration of the International Youth Day 2016, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, …

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The saying goes that “not all fingers are equal”. Some are born with a silver spoon while others create it for themselves. Gerald Nwokocha, 28, a Correspondent from Abuja, Nigeria, meets with several students who have devised ways of supporting themselves during schooling.  Despite the economic downturn in Nigeria, most students engage in many meaningful activities on …

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With the population of persons affected by HIV and AIDS still growing, Angelique Pouponneau, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from the Seychelles, looks at discrimination that can still hamper productive lives. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there were approximately 36.9 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2014. Of these 2.6 million …

“Countries must invest in HIV positive citizens” Read More »