by Similoluwa Ifedayo Sometime this month, on my way home, something cracked in me. I saw a boy—maybe nine years old—dart through traffic along Iyana Paja, Lagos State, with arms stretched to the sky, his voice hoarse but determined: “Oga mi, boss, abeg give me something. My honourable!” He wasn’t just hungry. He was desperate. …

You Can’t Afford a Child Just Because You Can Make One Read More »

by Joyce Wachau Chege Yesterday was June 25. It was just a few hours ago, I keep telling myself, over and over and over again. In the bus on my way to work, I watch as life goes by, as if nothing had happened. By the time I alight, two work bags well balanced on …

When Womanhood becomes a Battlefield and a Crime Read More »

by Jasmine Koria On the 27th of May 2025, the government of the Independent State of Samoa announced to a stunned public that it had, for the first time in at least four decades, failed to pass a national budget for the new financial year. This comes after months of tense exchanges on the floor …

Snap! It’s Election Time in Samoa  Read More »

Nominations are now open for young leaders to be nominated for executive positions for the 2025-2028 Commonwealth Students Association (CSA). The nomination period will close on Saturday 12 July 2025, allowing for approved candidates to start campaigning in time for the virtual election, which will take place from 11th September – 12th September. The Commonwealth …

Nominations open for Executive Positions on Commonwealth Students Association Read More »

by Dassia Regalado, CYCN Communications & PR Assistant Lead Each year on May 31, World No Tobacco Day highlights the serious health risks associated with tobacco use. From cancer to heart disease, the harms are well-documented. But this year, we’re shifting the lens. While health remains a critical focus, the environmental impact of tobacco farming …

COP30: Uncovering Tobacco’s Hidden Environmental Cost  Read More »

Many of the young people frowned up by society or who are deemed “troubled” have a past or story that haunts them. Many were raised in broken homes with limited access to resources. They may also have been victims of trauma, with no means of accessing the support needed at that stage of their lives. …

Shattered Foundations: How Broken Homes Shape Young Lives Read More »

Climate change constitutes the defining public health crisis of our era, exerting disproportionate impacts on youth populations across the globe. Within the Commonwealth, young people – comprising over 60% of the population – are not only among the most vulnerable to climate-health risks including rising mental health burdens, heat stress, and vector-borne diseases, but also …

Commonwealth Youth issue statement on Youth Inclusive Climate-Health Financing Read More »