This week young people from across the UK will attend the Commonwealth Youth Forum as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) taking place in London. Young people in attendance will discuss the solutions for a fairer, more secure, sustainable and prosperous future.
47 young representatives will gather with young people from across the Commonwealth to build cross-cultural connections and networks, debate the challenges facing its young people, and agree on youth-led initiatives to influence decision makers and ensure young people have a voice in its future. During the Forum, young people will have the opportunity to current global challenges and opportunities that face young people in the Commonwealth and provide policy recommendations to help solve these issues.
Thrinayani Ramakrishnan, UK Young Ambassador to the Commonwealth who will attend as an official UK delegate said: “I’m really looking forward to joining delegates from across the Commonwealth to learn, develop ideas and share experiences.
“It’s imperative young people are involved in shaping the future of the Commonwealth.”
The three-day event has been organised by the UK Government and Commonwealth Secretariat with the support of the British Youth Council as the national youth council of the UK. The event is due to be opened by Anna Barker, Chair of the British Youth Council who will be joined by Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education, Kishiva Ambigathy, Chair of the Commonwealth Youth Council and Jayathma Wickramanayake, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
Anna Barker, Chair of the British Youth Council said: “I’m really looking forward to welcoming young people from across the Commonwealth to the Commonwealth Youth Forum. It’s absolutely right that young people are at the heart of shaping the future of the Commonwealth.”