The inaugural Commonwealth Expo 2023 was held on the final day of the 10th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting (10CYMM) and allowed Government ministers and other delegates to learn more about the work of accredited Commonwealth organisations, as well as others working in the youth space. The expo resulted in a rich display of youth-focused initiatives and projects that are all aimed at improving the lives of .
The , held on 15 September, was a culmination of four days of purposeful dialogue, exchange of best practices and activities to amplify the contribution of . 10CYMM brought together government ministers, senior officials, young leaders, and partner organisations to discuss initiatives that will impact the 56 Commonwealth member states.
Youth organisations and networks showcased programmes and initiatives that promote human rights, address climate change, protect children, and support people with disabilities. Many of those who were there were eager to form more partnerships to extend the work that they are doing.
Richard Rieser, General Secretary of the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum, which covers more than a hundred organisations run by people with disabilities in over 50 countries, spoke about why he felt the experience at the expo was so useful. He said:
“Ministers and other representatives could engage with the and dialogue with us about what we are doing, which often does not happen when those ‘in the know’ meet only others ‘in the know’. Therefore, it opened up things considerably, and we made a number of contacts with youth ministers and their chief advisors, as well as the youth council and others.”
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Commenting on the degree of positive engagement and collaboration at the event, the CommonAge Youth Ambassador and founder of the Dominica Dementia Foundation, Rianna Patterson added:
“It was great to learn more about accredited organisations and promote the work of CommonAge. We also had quite a few individuals and organisations keen to partner with us from visiting our stall.”
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In addition to the chance to engage with , those at the expo spoke highly about the breadth and power of the Commonwealth network. Dr Gladson Vaghela, Membership Lead at the Commonwealth Youth Health Network, said:
“It became a canvas on which I could artfully portray our network’s relentless commitment to championing ‘health for all’ among the youth. In a moment, as personal as it was profound, I found myself assuming the role of representing the voice of 1.6 billion young souls.”
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The exhibition also highlighted the Commonwealth Youth Programme’s (CYP) recent media partnership model aimed at finding additional ways to amplify the voices of . To complement the ministerial meeting, a 12-page supplement in the UK’s Voice Newspaper, with articles written by members of the Commonwealth Youth Networks, was produced. The supplement included reflections from writers advocating for, and working towards, accelerated progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Other articles of those young writers are also highlighted on the website, , where their perspectives are shared, as well as being a platform to help hone the talent of young journalists and commentators.
In addition to those showcased during the expo, other partnerships were being explored to engage, amplify and empower , including initiatives with the African Union; media conglomerate Trace TV; and gaming organisation the Global ESport Federation.
The ’s Head of Social Policy Development, Layne Robinson, stressed the importance of the Commonwealth partnership model. He said:
“Based on the feedback, this expo was a great success and evidence of the effectiveness of the partnership pillar that supports the CYP’s work.
“Ultimately it was designed to facilitate having policymakers able to easily speak with the organisations, including those in the private sector, that can support them in helping to reach their development goals. It is also about showcasing how they can also work with, for example, media partners who can support advocacy and awareness-raising efforts.”
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The 10CYMM also reached firm commitments for aimed at delivering more for the in the Commonwealth, which will inform the plans for the work of the ’s Youth team.
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Ijeoma Onyeator Communications Officer, Communications Division,
