Was it written somewhere that fathers must never tell their sons, “I love you”? by Israel Adedoyin Ifunaya noticed that Bamídélé had been absent-minded in class while the lecturer spoke. “What’s wrong? Why’s your countenance dull?” “It is my father. I have a problem with him.” “Problem? Tell me. What’s the problem?” Bamídélé looked down …
by Angel Naa Odarley Lawson, Ghana Winner of the 2025 Waves of Change, Commonwealth Youth Essay Competition Across the world, a vibrant wave of young leaders is shaping the response to two of humanity’s greatest challenges: climate change and ocean degradation. For the 56 member states of the Commonwealth, home to more than 1.5 billion …
by Joyce Wachau Chege Outside the gates of the August 7th Memorial Park along Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi moves with its usual urgency. Matatus rumble along Haile Selassie Avenue, pedestrians weave through traffic, and the city presses forward as it always has. But inside, time slows. The green park, all the way to the bubbling …
The Silence That Still Echoes: 28 Years After Kenya’s Darkest Morning. Read More »
by Joyce Wachau Chege I often think about my passport, which has been collecting dust in my suitcase for close to three years now, and I feel sorry for it. I dream of and look forward to the day I will take my first flight, to get on that plane headed for Switzerland. I have …
by Niyati Asati In South Asia, where traditional mindsets remain deeply rooted, feminism is more complex than in many Western societies and embracing the label of feminist often requires considerable courage. ‘Motichur’ is a collection of essays by Begum Rokeya that explores the oppression faced by women and argues that their emancipation was essential to …
by Katerina Panagi For decades, peace negotiations on the divided island of Cyprus were treated as the exclusive domain of senior politicians, diplomats, and negotiators. Young Cypriots—born long after the island was physically and politically divided in 1974—frequently found themselves shaped as passive observers of a future being drafted entirely without them.While peace talks cycled …
One Year On: How Cyprus’s Youth Found a Seat at the Peace Table Read More »
by Fadonna Begin Youth unemployment in Malawi remains one of the country’s most urgent challenges that demands a shift from traditional job-seeking towards innovative and sustainable solutions. Not long ago more than 2,500 hopeful, qualified and determined young people showed up to compete for only a handful of Health Surveillance Assistant positions. Is this the …
by G Sai Prashanth Have you ever wondered how you used to write before you started using AI? With no guidance, no nudges, no rephrasing, and no grammar corrections. We now write more prompts than actual articles, papers or content. Before any of this AI, I trained as a journalist. I was taught how to …
What It Means to Write Human In The Era Of Artificial Intelligence? Read More »
by Filipe Costa When people think of the UK, they often picture abundant rainfall and water security. However, the record-breaking dry month of July this year demonstrates that even traditionally water-secure nations are increasingly vulnerable. This highlights an important reality: water insecurity is no longer confined to traditionally dry regions. Climate change, ageing infrastructure, pollution, …
Beyond Scarcity: Why Water Connects Every Nation Read More »
The Commonwealth will observe International Youth Day (IYD) on 12 August 2026, a day when the world acknowledges the vital role that young people play as agents of change, leaders, and mobilisers in promoting development. This year’s global theme is “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”. It recognises that while young people’s lives are shaped by very …
Commonwealth to Mark International Youth Day 2026 Read More »