Natural resources can help or hurt a country, writes Metolo Foyet, 21, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Cameroon now living in Niger, who argues that economic volatility and environmental degradation are two of the downsides to having certain natural resources. In some countries the exploitation of natural resources has even led to war. Natural resources can …

Finding natural resources :A blessing or curse? Read More »

Lack of health education is one of factors feeding the high incidence of HIV/AIDS in one district in his country, argues Erisa Sserwaddad, 23 a correspondent from Kampala, Uganda who says government and other community based organizations need to act with urgency to address the needs of the fishing communities in Hoima district, Uganda. Despite …

“Hurry and rescue the people of Oil City” Read More »

Human life depends on healthy oceans writes Daniel Olajuyigbe, a 17 year old correspondent from Ekiti State, Nigeria, who highlights the importance of our oceans. He argues that our oceans are in danger, and calls for more action to save them.  We may not realize it but whether we’re showering in the bathroom, flushing the toilet,  freezing food …

Save our oceans, secure our future Read More »

Food plays a huge role in bringing people together during celebrations and ceremonies in India and often the surplus food resulting from this goes to waste and ends up in landfills, all while another part of the same society sleeps hungry and malnourished. According to the UN, Indians waste 1.3 billion tonne of food every …

Indian youth wins award for feeding the hungry Read More »

Two young Samoans are helping to make environmentally friendly sanitary napkins available to girls and women in their community who need them. The two change-makers were finalists in the Commonwealth Youth Awards 2019. Maisy Bentley, 19 years old,a Correspondent from Wellington, New Zealand has been following their story. The Pacific Islands are known for beautiful …

Eco-friendly and economical sanitary pads Read More »

Eyeglasses are no longer out of reach for many Ugandans because of the work of Brenda Katwesigye, CEO and founder of Wazi Vision and her team. Wazi Vision makes eyeglasses from recycled plastic and uses virtual reality eye-testing technology to make eye health more affordable. The social enterprise also does mobile eye tests in schools …

Making glasses more affordable for Ugandans Read More »

Vaccines have saved many lives and mark an important milestone in early childhood healthcare. But in a new trend, more people are refusing to get vaccinated, despite the wide availability of vaccines, writes Commonwealth Correspondent Omer Fayshal Pavel, 25, from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Vaccines appeared as early as the year 1000, but it was only hundreds …

To jab or not to jab? Read More »

International Women’s Day was observed recently and Ashlee Burnett, a 22-year-old Commonwealth Correspondent from Trinidad and Tobago argues that despite recent developments, much more needs to be done to protect women and girls from gender-based violence.  Women are dying at the hands of their partners in domestic disputes at an alarming rate in Trinidad and …

Do more to protect our women Read More »

It’s Independence Day in Bangladesh. But instead of the usual March 26 celebrations, the government is stepping up measures to control the spread of the coronavirus. It has declared a national holiday which begins today and will last until Saturday, April 4, 2020. Over the 10-day period, public and private businesses are to be closed …

COVID-19: Independence Day lockdown Read More »

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland writes about meeting inspirational young health innovator Rayvon Stewart at the Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting (CHMM) in Geneva last year in this blog. Rayvon was among the finalists shortlisted for last year’s Commonwealth Health Innovation Awards. Five years ago more than 40 babies born in Jamaican hospitals became infected with lethal bacteria – …

Young Jamaican’s invention could help tackle the spread of viruses like COVID-19 Read More »