Depression is like a Dementor, writes Tahiya Islam, 23, a Correspondent from Dhaka in Bangladesh, in this personal essay about her own experience. I don’t want to bore you with the different definitions of depression; rather I want to share what I went or go through. You can be living the most perfect life ever, …

“Depression is my enemy and my ally!” Read More »

Urbanisation is often cited as a parameter of how well-developed a city is, writes Monica Islam, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Dhaka in Bangladesh. But urban growth can mean new problems and the need to find creative solutions. Urban planning and regeneration are increasingly being sought as solutions to haphazard urban growth. Urban planning has …

“Restaurant boom adds to urban heat sinks” Read More »

Diagnosis is a crucial step in the battle against HIV/AIDS, but as Sesame O. Mogotsi, 24, a Correspondent from Gaborone in Botswana explains, there is some controversy over the best way to make that diagnosis. It was World AIDS day and my Twitter feed was filled with people advocating for HIV testing and diagnosis. Some …

“Self-testing to reach the 90-90-90 target” Read More »

The casual entertainment of sitcoms became something much more for Tahiya Islam, 23, a Correspondent from Dhaka in Bangladesh, as she examined the lessons to be found in the characters and their interaction with each other. To a large crowd of today’s generation, TV sitcoms play an important source of entertainment. I am no exception …

“TV helped me value different perspectives” Read More »

The bilharzia parasite causes illness and chronic health damage in throughout Africa, writes Gift Kaputolo, 23, a Correspondent from Lilongwe in Malawi, who describes work by a volunteer youth group to educate communities about risk and prevention. Bilharzia, also known schistosomiasis, is an infection caused by a parasitic worm that lives in fresh water in subtropical …

“Youths educate community about parasite” Read More »

Recent murders indicate a broken security system, writes Badru Walusansa, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Kampala in Uganda, who calls for reformed leadership that will address the need to protect citizens. The spate of murders in Uganda, the most recent one having claimed a life of 28-year-old Susan Magara, is a clear indication of a …

“Strengthening security over a referendum” Read More »

A 2017 United Nations report predicts that Nigeria will be the third most populous nation in the world after China and India in 2050. Sola Abe, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Lagos in Nigeria, talked to women about family planning. Unfortunately, Nigeria does not have the capacity to cater for its growing population, and this has led …

“Nigerian women fear family planning” Read More »

Growing food at home has benefits beyond providing nutritious food, writes Bhagya Wijayawardane, 28, a Correspondent from Colombo, Sri Lanka. She’s working to bring home gardens to marginalised urban residents. As part of the local effort to fight food insecurity, eliminate vitamin A deficiency and nutritional blindness, and to improve physical growth among school children …

“Home gardens can transform ‘hungry’ homes” Read More »

Educating about and providing women with supplies for menstruation can be difficult, especially among vulnerable groups. Musa Temidayo, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Nigeria, tells about providing supplies to women in displaced persons camps. Borno State, the second-largest Nigerian state by area, is in north-eastern Nigeria. Its capital is Maiduguri. Unfortunately, violence has claimed a …

“Helping women by providing #PadsForBorno” Read More »