Commonwealth Day 2010, the Pan-Commonwealth Youth Caucus calls on decision makers in all Commonwealth countries to celebrate and involve young people, especially in building opportunities brought about through science and technology. On this Commonwealth Day, the Caucus also wishes to welcome the young people of Rwanda into the Commonwealth family of nations.

Shellicia Brooks

The past year marked 60 years of the modern Commonwealth. The theme – ‘serving a new generation’ – drew attention to the Commonwealth’s greatest human resource, its one billion people aged under 30 years. As we come to the end of a year working under that theme, the Caucus calls on all Commonwealth stakeholders – local, national and pan-Commonwealth – to make this and every future year one that is also focused on young people. On 10 August 2010, the UN’s International Year of Youth will begin. This presents an opportunity for the world to follow the Commonwealth’s lead, by ensuring that young people are at the heart of all decision making processes that affect our peer group.

The age bracket of youth, 16 to 29 years, accommodates a period marked by immense life change. For most, youth is the period where we seek to enter the work force for the first time. For many, youth is the time of life when we will form lasting relationships, and start to build a family. For those fortunate enough to have such access, youth is also the period when we complete our education. With all these changes inevitably occurring during this phase, our peer group is worthy of particular attention. Government policy can be an enabler or a barrier at each one of these milestones for us. Making policy and decisions that are youth-focused and youth-friendly is therefore especially important, and involving young people in that process is equally pivotal.
This Commonwealth Day centres on the theme of 'Science, Technology and Society'. Young people are an essential part of building technology and improving science to benefit society. With appropriate financial support, it will be our generation who will develop the vaccine against malaria, the cure for HIV/AIDS and the means to ensure that science continues to reduce hunger. Similarly, technology has always been spurned and led by young people. Ensuring that the generation who will innovate to make more efficient transport, energy sources and means of communication have access to the resources necessary to do this is critical. The Caucus calls on governments across the Commonwealth to improve vocational and academic paths that make careers in and the benefits of science and technology open to all young people.

As the next decade of the modern Commonwealth begins, we hope that 'serving the new generation' of Commonwealth citizens will be as central and celebrated as it has been during the past year.

Kasseem Forde

Anguilla’s Regional Youth Caucus Representatives for the Commonwealth, Ms. Shellecia Brooks and Mr. Kasseem Forde, pledge their commitment to youth development in Anguilla, the region and the Commonwealth and look forward to the support of the government and people of Anguilla.

The Pan-Commonwealth Youth Caucus is a governance body of the Commonwealth Youth Programme. It is constituted by one representative aged under 30 from all Commonwealth member countries. The Commonwealth Youth Programme is the agency responsible for youth development within the Commonwealth Secretariat.

- Press Release

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