Joshua Ebin from Nigeria was one 16 finalists for this year’s Commonwealth Youth Awards. The 29-year-old is the co-founder of Jumela Ltd., an agro-technology venture that specializes in the production of plant-based compost for crop farmers in Nigeria. Jumela also tackles poor food waste management, pollution problems and low agricultural yield in Africa. Sola Abe, …

One man’s trash, another man’s treasure Read More »

Vedant Jain is set on giving children from underprivileged backgrounds the best tools they need to succeed—the discovery of themselves and their abilities. He is co-founder of the ‘Labhya Foundation’; a non-profit that equips children from low socio-economic with critical social and emotional skills. Vedant’s efforts earned him a place as one of the 2020 …

Bringing out the diamonds in the rough Read More »

In high school, cheerleading was Stephen McCubbin’s favourite activity. It saved him from getting caught up in violence in his home country of Jamaica. Now, he’s using it as a tool to help young people feel valued and respected. Commonwealth Correspondent Jhannel Tomlinson, 27, from Kingston, Jamaica, spoke to Stephen– a finalist in this year’s …

Finding salvation in cheerleading Read More »

Rinesh Sharma is turning obstacles into opportunities by farming in under-utilised spaces around Lautoka City in Fiji. One of the 16 finalists of this year’s Commonwealth Youth Awards, Rinesh is the founder of Smart Farms Fiji, an initiative that aims to provide a sustainable food production system by growing fruits and vegetables in a controlled …

Farming smart in Fiji Read More »

Stay home, stay safe, stay alive. That is the global message as the coronavirus pandemic claims more lives. While many of us can practice social distancing, spare a thought for refugees, forced migrants and displaced persons who have no choice about how and where they live. Bismark Akoto, a 24-year-old Commonwealth Correspondent from Accra, Ghana …

Far from home and dodging coronavirus Read More »

Responses by leaders across the world to the coronavirus pandemic have ranged from efficient to questionable. As Canadian writer Robin Sharma eloquently put it: “Anyone can lead when the plan is working. The best lead when the plan falls apart.” Munguongeyo Ivan, a 27-year-old Commonwealth Correspondent from Kampala, Uganda, looks at various interventions to a crisis that …

Leadership during COVID-19 Read More »

It is in times like these that an idea like Salvatory Kessy’s online education platform really shines. Salvatory, from Tanzania, is the founder of SmartClass, a platform which matches low-cost qualified and vetted tutors to students interested in learning basic skills such as numeracy, literacy, computing, agriculture and languages. Commonwealth Correspondent Tumaini John Makole from …

Bringing the classroom to students in East Africa Read More »

As governments attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in local communities and countries, it is vital that they communicate to citizens in languages that people in different segments of the society speak and understand. Metolo Foyet, a 23-year-old Commonwealth Correspondent from Cotonou, Benin, shares her experience with language learning when she was growing …

Language learning for health, safety and life Read More »

As the coronavirus continues to spread globally, what opportunities are there for creators and innovators? Jacob Masenga, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Zambia, talks to Zanga Musakuzi, a Zambian health tech innovator making it easier for people to find health services. Most great solutions came about through creativity and innovation during challenging situations. Here’s an example of how a …

COVID-19: Inspiring innovation Read More »

On May 4, Nigeria’s federal government gradually started easing a five-week lockdown in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos State, along with Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory. The aim was to gradually reopen some businesses, with a view to eventually fully re-opening critical sectors of the economy. Laila Johnson-Salami, a 23-year-old Correspondent from Lagos, Nigeria, …

Lagos: Lock down or open up? Read More »