A Commonwealth by Youth, for Youth: Reflections on my CYGEN Leadership Journey
- Angellah Manda
- Jul 15
- 3 min read
Over the years, I have been fortunate to share my journey as a Commonwealth Youth Gender & Equality Network (CYGEN) member - an experience that has deepened my belief in the power of youth-led networks to advance gender equality. CYGEN is a platform that continues to bring together youths from all 56 Commonwealth countries and supports their meaningful inclusion in the Commonwealth agenda. It strives to have a Commonwealth BY youths and FOR youths. This is done through the convening of spaces where young people can actively contribute to issues of policy and governance that affect them and their communities at the national, regional and Commonwealth level.
Since 2020, I have worked with CYGEN in various capacities and have been able to contribute to CYGEN`s vision. It was in 2022 that I had the honour of being elected as the Gender and Governance Lead for CYGEN. During this time, I transitioned from being a member of the Gender and Governance working group to leading its interventions. During my tenure, I collaborated with the amazing CYGEN members in the Gender and Governance working group to implement network activities. Some of the successes include the commemoration of International Day of Parliamentarism, which convened youth politicians from Commonwealth countries to strategise on how young people can take up space and positively contribute to the political development of the Commonwealth. Similarly, in 2023, an International Women`s Day high-level panel discussion was also organised on how technology can be catalysed for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Through it all, membership lies at the heart of CYGEN’s work, as it is through the collective voices, experiences, and contributions of young people across the Commonwealth that the network drives its impact.
Last year in June, I was pleased to be selected for the position of Membership and Engagement Lead within the new Executive Committee (ExCo) structure of CYGEN. With the goal of strengthening the network’s membership, several membership recruitment drives were carried out, which saw an increase in CYGEN`s presence in previously underrepresented Commonwealth countries.
In what has been a memorable journey, CYGEN has been a highlight in my advocacy work. The network prioritises spaces for collaboration and engagement, enabling young people to collectively shape policy and drive action. Through these opportunities, I participated in the CYGEN convening in Rwanda in 2022, where we developed the network’s Strategic Plan for 2022–2024. I have also been privileged to represent CYGEN at high-level forums, including the Commonwealth Youth Leaders’ Summit, and to contribute to the development of the Commonwealth Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Strategy Framework.
In my new capacity as Coordinator, I am keen to build on the exceptional work carried out by my predecessor, Eman Borg, and to contribute to CYGEN`s growing impact. I look forward to amplifying the diverse knowledge and skills within the ExCo and the entire CYGEN membership. Together, we will champion gender equality, strengthen youth leadership, and build a Commonwealth that truly reflects the aspirations of its young people. Most importantly, we will celebrate the extraordinary work of youth leaders along the way.
I am proud to lead this next chapter in our pursuit of lasting change!
About the author
Angellah Manda is a Gender practitioner from Southern Africa – Malawi. She has over 7 years of professional experience, the majority of which was acquired in the gender sector. She has been a member of CYGEN since 2020, serving as the Gender and Governance Lead from 2022 to 2023 and as the Membership and Engagement Lead from 2024 to 2025. Currently, she is working in the energy sector as a technical advisor in Malawi. Prior to this, she worked for a civil society organisation called Youth and Society as a Gender and Social Inclusion program associate. She also served as the Women Economic Empowerment and Social Justice program associate at an NGO called For Equality Africa. She holds a bachelor's degree in Public Administration and is pursuing a master's degree in Political Science at the University of Malawi.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
