Young people are at the centre of the Commonwealth and will remain so in the future
Posted by ZoeWare - 19/07/09 at 07:07 pmIn a message to mark the 2009 Commonwealth theme ’serving a new generation’, Pan-Commonwealth Youth Caucus Chair Matthew Albert emphasises that young people must be involved in finding solutions to global problems.
“We are just a few of over one billion people, or 60% of the Commonwealth population, aged under 30 years. We are also just some of those who will inherit and build on Commonwealth ties that have served generations before us…
Commonwealth member states, with the rest of the world, are going through the hardest food and financial crises of the last 60 years while facing an environmental future more precarious than at any time in human history. These conditions often impact young people disproportionately. At the same time, young people are often the ones left out from discussions about solutions…
As we look to the future of the Commonwealth, it is the hope of the Pan-Commonwealth Youth Caucus and myself that this will change. As the Commonwealth Secretary-General has remarked, in generations past, one would look to the older generations for guidance as to how a problem should be fixed. In the advent of increased technology and in a time when fresh and creative ideas may provide the best solutions, older generations are now looking to young people for the answers. Never has it been truer that nothing should be done for young people, without the input of young people…”
Click here to read the full text of Matthew Albert’s article on the Royal website.
And then let us know what you think below.
Category : Connecting with Young People
Tags: young people, youth
Stay Updated : 
RSS 2.0 feed.
July 28th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Do you know that as young people, we have an enormous stake in the present and future state of Commonwealth and the world at large? Almost half of the human population is under the age of 25. If young people?s resources of talent, creativity, energy, time, and knowledge are misdirected towards violence, terrorism, socially-isolating technologies, and unsustainable consumption, human development risks destabilization. No doubt, there is a powerful opportunity for society if young people can participate positively in all aspects of sustainable development. In order to do so, we need education, political support, resources, skills, and hope. And this can be provided if we are ready to take advantage of such opportunity?As a youth, what other things do you think the Commonwealth should do to cater for young people?
August 9th, 2009 at 11:44 am
This is a subject which should be at the forefront of Commonwealth Policy, and at the risk of invoking the wrath of the moderators, I will repost an idea I already added to the ‘Studying across the Commonwealth’ topic.
Climate Change will, I believe, be the single greatest issue throughout the 21st century, probably beyond. Charles, Prince of Wales, is currently spearheading several Conservation organisations, and I propose the Commonwealth follow suit with its own policy to prepare the Youth of Today for what will undoubtedly prove the greatest challenge mankind has ever faced. Sustainability must be the Commonwealth’s watchword – and here is my plan to achieve it.
I propose that the Commonwealth institute a totally new education program in all member states.
This qualification would be taught from college level and, rather than covering Academia, will teach skills which will aid sustainable development. Many Commonwealth states are developing countries with industrial aspirations ? students and young people across the Commonwealth must be given the opportunity to realise their nations? dreams without harming our planet any further. This also goes for developed countries where, despite overwhelming scientific evidence, politicians seem incapable of reducing Carbon emissions or environmental impact.
So here is the plan: The Commonwealth Sustainability Baccalaureate (CSB) will be made available to any and all students throughout the Commonwealth who wish to help ensure the future of their nations and their planet.
The curriculum will cover:
Subsistence farming
Construction/engineering
Environmental Science
Renewable energy
Basic medicine/vetinary/First Aid
Conservation
Emergency rescue and response skills
Languages
Cultural studies/world history
The onus in all the subjects will be PRACTICAL APPLICATION. In order to graduate the CSB students must be able to practically demonstrate their skills in real conditions. The academic aspect will be present, but limited, as the CSB is geared toward the practically-minded student.
In order to give students the best chance for this, the course will last 3 years ? 2 studying and developing skills in the student?s home country, and two working with a job placement or placements in another Commonwealth country where new skills can be practiced.
The CSB?s primary theme would be ensuring the future for the next generations, and teaching usable skills. Even in countries where practical qualifications are encouraged, they are still taught primarily at the Academic level, and practical application is often lacking.
I suggest that the Commonwealth establish a general curriculum and work with schools, NGOs and National Governments to build up a base of teachers and placements throughout member states, as well as outreach organisations to offer the CSB to students in deprived areas. This would be a mighty project, but the skills that would be taught, and the work that could be achieved, would be well worth the investment in time and energy.
Young people are the future, but they should be given the opportunity to see through a future where they can live safely and sustainably, for their own children, and their children’s children. The CSB would be a decent start.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I concur with many of RFLowings’ suggestions.
It seems to me that interested young people of today are hands on “doers.” They are less interested in what politicians and other leaders think, and are more interested in getting things done such as provision of clean water; teaching; health care and perticulalry battling the impact of HIV Aids; communications knowledge; fighting inequalities etc.
I agree that hands-on education is a great idea in so far as it goes. The trouble is that Education Minitries probably would not endorse such programmes in their school curricula.
Maybe the answer is for the Commonwealth to set up practical training programmes, as suggested by RFLowlings, on WikiEducator for teachers and students to access.
(WikiEducator is a creation of the Commonwealth of Learning, which has done very valuable work through the provision of distance and open learning services to teachers and students throughout the Commonwealth).
Another suggestion is for the Commonwealth to establish one or more ‘Commonwealth’ Colleges modelled on the International World Colleges focusing on the training of high school students on a) the value of the Commonwelth and, b) provide hands-on practical training for students to apply in their home countries.
Finally, I strongly urge Commonwealth leaders to listen to what young people–and there are many of them—want to do in their home countries to make them better places to live in.
David Petitpierre
September 27th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I would ask what does the Commonwealth do for young people? how does it reach out to them? and what does it mean?
October 15th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
I dont think young people are left out of discussions on the Commonwealth, I don’t think it means a jot to them.
“Young people are the future”… what nonsense. Just make yourself relevant!
November 29th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I am 16, and I know that most young people have no idea what the Commonwealth even is.
The Commonwealth must have more confidence and in touch with people of all ages around the world.