Famine refers to a sudden scarcity of food that can result in mass mortality from starvation, but Abdur Rafay Usmani, 21, a Correspondent from Karachi in Pakistan, looks at political and other pressures behind the tragedy. For a majority of our history, we used to think of famines as an ‘act of God’, outside the …

“Food politics and famine in the 21st century” Read More »

African agriculture is poised for development as business and government pledge to invest, writes Commonwealth Correspondent Michael Gyekye, 23, from Ghana. The result could be less hunger, more jobs, and stronger economies. African leaders across business and politics and the continent’s development partners are poised to elevate agriculture on the continent to an enviable pedestal through …

“Africa plots golden era of agriculture” Read More »

Nigeria is suffering an unemployment crisis, but Titus Igwe, one of the innovative and entrepreneurial Igwe twins, talks about giving back to his country by creating 20 million jobs through the YEAST Project in this interview with Sola Abe, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Lagos in Nigeria.  Just within 36 hours after a new job portal was …

“Aiming to create 20 million jobs in ten years” Read More »

Mahdy Hassan, 24, a Correspondent from Dhaka in Bangladesh, looks at an initiative in Bangladesh aimed at easing courtroom backlogs and delays that can hamper access to justice. He argues that Alternative Dispute Resolution brings justice in a variety of cases, and should be widely incorporated in the legal system. The Judiciary of Bangladesh is deadlocked …

“Bangladesh has solution for access to justice” Read More »

Information and computer technology offers both employment and empowerment for Nigeria’s youth, writes Isah Babayo, 28, a Correspondent from Gombe in Nigeria, who says the technology offers skills and networking opportunity. The current trend is of young people migrating from rural to urban areas in search of white collar jobs that are nowhere to be …

“The role of ICT in the future of Nigerian youth” Read More »

Food brings comfort, and comfort foods have strong connection to personal history. Shastri Sookdeo, 27, a Correspondent from Trinidad now living in Amsterdam, describes his favourite comfort food and its links to his travels. Food is usually linked to memory. This isn’t an original idea and to many people the food that I’ve chosen is …

“In praise of comfort food – in praise of dosa” Read More »

The taboo on talking about menstruation has been broken, writes Chimwemwe Manyozo, 27, is a Correspondent from Lilongwe, Malawi, but he argues the conversation should not turn into an either-or debate about access to supplies that serve girls’ need for health and success. Ever since I can remember, menstruation has been a topic that has not been …

“The campaign for free sanitary pads” Read More »

Entering school years was like entering a jungle, writes Tumaini Makole, 25, a Correspondent from Tanzania, where the odds of successful survival were low. He urges African leaders to take action, and change that experience for the sake of children and the future. I am writing this letter while my eyes are shedding blood tears. I …

“Making it through the jungle: letter to leaders” Read More »

As Kenya’s 2017 election approaches, Joshua Orawo, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Kenya, has been thinking about elections in Africa and the customary tendency of candidates to resort to their communal-support bases in anticipation of any election. Certain intricacies surround any general election in Africa, and they are not exclusive to Africa. One of these is …

“The social contract stands breached…” Read More »

The Global Youth Development Index and Report 2016 has successfully launched. The report provides an overview of the divide in opportunities for young people aged between 15 and 29 across 183 countries. There is a compilation of 18 indicators that collectively measure the opportunities for youth development in five key domains – education, health and well-being, employment and opportunity, …

Commonwealth launches Global Youth Development Index and Report Read More »