As young leaders and Youth Ministers meet in Antigua and Barbuda for the Caribbean Region Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting (CR-CYMM). Lyn-Marie Blackman, 28, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados, outlines the obstacles young people from the region must overcome. “Youth unemployment is at an all time high”, “HIV among the youth is on the rise”, and “Entrepreneurship is becoming increasingly popular …

CR-CYMM: “Challenges faced by young people in the Caribbean” Read More »

Oceans are vital to the environment and economy of Small Island Developing States, writes Angelique Pouponneau, 25, a Correspondent from Victoria in the Seychelles, who says oceans need their own Sustainable Development Goals. With 75 per cent of the Earth’s surface covered in water, the oceans should be given their own place in the post 2015 Sustainable …

"SIDS youth need a voice on oceans’ sustainability” Read More »

The tourism industry is adding new concepts to the recipe of sun, sea and sand, but Khadija Holder, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Trinidad and Tobago, has discovered the importance of one surprising ingredient. Tourism has become one of the major players in ‎international commerce and represents one of the primary income ‎sources for many developing countries, …

"Sector's revenue depends on 'Smile' tourism" Read More »

Climate change can be seen in extreme weather and felt in environment-related poverty, writes Mridul Upadhyay, 23, a Commonwealth Correspondent from New Delhi in India, who argues the evidence cannot be ignored.  Look at the infographics. This is climate reality. Climate disasters are affecting every corner of the world. We cannot escape from this. We just …

"Reality of climate change demands action" Read More »

Severe weather is hurting the Caribbean economy and environment, writes Advira Shand, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Manchester in Jamaica, as she urges leaders to take action on education and policies that will mitigate the impact of climate change. It was Ralph Gonzales, the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who boldly posited …

“Caribbean leaders must focus on climate change” Read More »

Sustainable development can start at the local level and yet have a global impact, writes Dilshan Jayasinghe, 18, a Correspondent from Mississauga, Canada, who writes about his involvement in youth-driven international projects. Sustainable development and environmental stewardship in any society would not take place unless the populace has a keen understanding as to why such is …

“Canadian youth work for sustainable development” Read More »

An unusually violent version of an annual storm prompted Atikul Islam, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Bogra in Bangladesh, to look at climate change and the value of trees. The Kal Baishakh storm is a seasonal storm in Bangladesh. In the time ahead of the first Bangla month of Baishakh, the Kal Baishakh storm strikes …

“Kal Baishakh storm inflicts alarming damage”         Read More »

Climate change poses enormous risk to Jamaica’s economy through crippling impact on its tourism and agriculture industries, writes Advira Shand, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Manchester in Jamaica, who urges leaders to speak up for Caribbean interests at climate change negotiatons. It is a fact that the Caribbean is by no means immune to the catastrophic …

“Caribbean leaders must fight climate change” Read More »

A potential re-examination of Britain’s membership in the European Union may create opportunities to strengthen Commonwealth ties, writes Jake Elson, 21, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Bunbury in Australia.  May 20, 2015 may well go down in British history for two reasons. One, David Cameron’s shock majority, which avoided the need to form a coalition with either the …

“Back to the future – the Commonwealth rises” Read More »

Your morning cup of coffee is a matter of economic importance to farmers in Guatemala, writes Dilshan Jayasinghe, 18, a Correspondent from Mississauga, Canada, who says entrepreneurship can bring equity for producers. My brother, Gihan Daniel Jayasinghe, went to Guatemala recently. He is an associate fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society and traveled with a team …

“Using entrepreneurship on coffee’s journey” Read More »