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8 September 2022 The Royal Commonwealth Society is immensely saddened to learn of the passing of our Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We express our deepest sympathies and condolences to His Majesty The King, The Queen Consort and all Members of the Royal Family at this time. From her public commitment to the Commonwealth family in Cape Town, South Africa, as a young princess in 1947, and throughout her long life and reign, The Queen was an instrumental figure in nurturing and inspiring this unique, voluntary association of independent, and sovereign nations. Since becoming the Head of the Commonwealth and Patron of the Society in 1952 at the age of 26, The Queen’s dedication to the Commonwealth has been unparalleled. From her numerous official visits to nearly every Commonwealth country, to lending her name and support to programmes and events of which the Society has been honoured to deliver and support, including The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy and The Queen’s Young Leaders, Her Majesty’s commitment to the value, and values, of this network of nations and peoples is humbling and irreplaceable. Executive Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Dr Linda Yueh, said: “No-one has made a greater contribution to the Commonwealth over the decades than The Queen. As Head of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty personally reinforced the links by which this unique network brings peoples and countries from around the globe together in common cause. Her life and tireless efforts will forever be linked to this voluntary association of 56 independent and equal, sovereign states, which encompass over 2.5 billion people, and to whom The Queen displayed an unwavering dedication. As Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society, The Queen was unstinting and gracious in her support, attending many of our highest-profile events, including the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey and the High Commissioners’ Banquet. She also lent her name to a number of programmes that the Society has been honoured to deliver, including The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, the world’s oldest international schools’ writing contest, The Queen’s Young Leaders, and most recently The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. Her Majesty’s lifetime of indefatigable and selfless commitment to the Commonwealth and the Society will be truly missed.” NOTES TO EDITORS: About the Royal Commonwealth Society: The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) is a network of individuals and organisations committed to improving the lives and prospects of Commonwealth citizens across the world. Through youth empowerment, education and high-level advocacy, the Society champions the importance of literacy, equality and inclusion, the environment and connected communities across the Commonwealth’s 56 member nations. The Society’s unique position within the Commonwealth family allows it to play a pivotal role in convening and connecting the Commonwealth’s political and diplomatic representatives, as well as industry, civil society, academic and business leaders, on a wide range of issues. Founded in 1868, the RCS is non-partisan, independent of governments and relies on public generosity to achieve its mission. https://www.royalcwsociety.org/ The Commonwealth Service Each year, on the second Monday in March, the Royal Commonwealth Service organises the Commonwealth Service, the UK's largest, annual inter-faith celebration and premier public event to celebrate the Commonwealth at Westminster Abbey. The aim of the Commonwealth Service is to celebrate the unity, diversity, and linkages of the modern Commonwealth and to foster greater understanding of the Commonwealth’s achievements and role, particularly amongst its young people. The Commonwealth Service had the support of Her Majesty The Queen who attended the event each year since becoming Head of Commonwealth on all but three occasions. Over the years, the Service has featured contributions from Nobel Laureates Kofi Annan, Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi as well as UN Patron of Oceans, Lewis Pugh, entrepreneur, Richard Branson and British world heavyweight boxing champion, Olympic gold medallist and RCS Ambassador, Anthony Joshua OBE. https://www.royalcwsociety.org/commonwealthservice The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools and has been proudly delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. In the past decade alone, this high-profile competition has engaged over 166,000 children, over 5,000 schools and around 1,000 volunteer judges. Past winners have gone on to become leaders in their fields, including the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Mei Fong, and the renowned author, the late Elspeth Huxley CBE. The Commonwealth Essay Competition was renamed The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition in 2015 in honour of our Patron Her Majesty The Queen’s dedication to the Commonwealth. https://www.royalcwsociety.org/essay-competition The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy (QCC), was launched at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta in 2015. It presents a unique opportunity to unite the whole Commonwealth family and save one of the world's most important natural habitats - our forests. By creating a pan-Commonwealth network of forest conservation projects across all 56 Commonwealth countries, the QCC will mark Her Majesty The Queen's service to the Commonwealth while conserving indigenous forests for future generations. The QCC is the first environmental initiative in The Queen’s name and involves all but two Commonwealth nations, Togo and Gabon, who joined in the Commonwealth at the Rwanda CHOGM in June 2022. The QCC is a partnership between the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Commonwealth Forestry Association and Cool Earth. https://www.royalcwsociety.org/qcc The High Commissioners’ Banquet The Royal Commonwealth Society has been the custodian of the High Commissioners' Banquet since it held its first 'conversazione' in 1874. It quickly became the highlight of the London social scene - by 1882, over 2,000 people attended. The event ceased in the 1960s, but with the encouragement of High Commissioners was revived in 2011 and has since been an annual event for High Commissioners and senior Commonwealth representatives. For the last few years, the High Commissioners' Banquet has been held at Guildhall, in partnership with the City of London Corporation, and is an opportunity to bring together the Commonwealth's London-based diplomatic representatives and UK and Commonwealth thought and business leaders. Queen's Commonwealth Canopy Announcement - YouTube The Queen's Young Leaders (QYL) Between 2015-2018, 240 exceptional young people from across the Commonwealth received a Queen’s Young Leaders Award in recognition of the work they were undertaking to transform their lives and the lives of those around them. The now complete network of Queen’s Young Leaders, many of whom are Associate Fellows of the Society, is a unique, dedicated and powerful group of young people from Commonwealth countries who are connecting, collaborating, and changing lives together. http://www.queensyoungleaders.com/ Social media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook: @RoyalCWSociety Press contact: Elizabeth van der Valk, Head of Public Affairs E: elizabeth.vandervalk@royalcwsociety.org | T: +44 (0)20 3727 4309

Are you an inspiring young leader who is passionate about creating positive changes in your local community? In partnership with Clarion Futures, we’re offering six young people from Malta, aged 18-25 the exciting opportunity to take part in a six-month youth exchange programme, which aims to embed meaningful social action on a global scale. As part of the programme, you’ll have the chance to take part in social action projects and campaigns that make a difference, whilst receiving the training to support you along the way. As part of this programme, participants will also have the opportunity to travel to the UK (30 September - 2 October) and stay at Cumberland Lodge, a former Royal residence in Windsor Great Park, and now home to an educational foundation that seeks to empower people, through open dialogue and debate, to tackle the causes and effects of social division. An exchange will also take place in Malta in January 2023. All reasonable costs will be covered, including flights, accommodation and expenses. Bursaries to assist with the delivery of social action plans will also be considered. So if you’re passionate about making a difference in your community, we want to hear from you! Timeline: How can I apply? Applicants should submit their answers to the following questions, together with a copy of their CV and details of two references to communications@royalcwsociety.org by 23:59 BST on Monday, 29 August 2022. All applications will be acknowledged, and a member of the team will contact you if you have been successful to arrange an informal interview and provide you with more information about the programme. Please note that individual feedback will not be provided for unsuccessful applications. Please note all participants should be: 18-25 years old; A Maltese citizen; Passionate about creating positive change in your community; Have some previous experience of engaging in social action, volunteering or activism; Awareness of grassroots organisations and social action opportunities in your local area; Knowledge of young people in your community and the issues that affect them; Good communication skills; Enjoy meeting new people and would be excited to attend a 3-day residential programme in September/ October in the UK, and a 3-day youth exchange in Malta on a shared room occupancy basis; An active team member who will commit to attending all meetings and virtual training/exchange activities, as well as participate in the programme for assigned period. Have the ability to travel internationally (i.e. holder of a valid passport).

The Commonwealth Youth Gender & Equality Network (CYGEN) is a youth-led network that actively promotes and supports the meaningful inclusion of youth voices on gender equality issues in local, national, regional, Commonwealth and international agendas. We seek to improve the position of young people, and advocate for increased meaningful youth engagement and participation in existing structures, processes and governance. As a Network, we facilitate opportunities for young people to voice their concerns on gender equality issues that not only affect them, but that impact the variety of communities in which they live. CYGEN is supported by the Royal Commonwealth Society, which serves as the Secretariat of the Network. Objectives 1. To ensure youth voices (from the commonwealth, and beyond) are represented in national, regional, Commonwealth, and international agendas and forums on gender equality issues. 2. To advocate for the development and implementation of policies which promote the well being of all young people. 3. To provide a space for young people living in the Commonwealth to share information and experiences related to gender equality. 4. To conduct research by youth, on youth issues from a gender equality perspective. 5. To provide technical advice on how to integrate youth voices into the development of programmes. 6. To engage with existing networks, advocacy efforts, and campaigns to increase the visibility of youth perspectives. All applicants are required to fulfill the following criteria: - Be a citizen of a Commonwealth country - Be between the ages of 18 and 29 by 31st December 2022 - Have a proven and verifiable track record of working on gender issues (academic and/or professional) - Have a genuine commitment to combating gender inequality - Identify strongly with Commonwealth values and the values of CYGEN as expressed in the Gender Agenda The deadline for membership applications is at 23:59 BST on Monday, 15 August 2022.

Tsemberi Fashion Project is the first fashion sustainability project in Cyprus, with a strong focus on Cypriot heritage. The project is a collaboration with the Royal Commonwealth Society and Clarion Futures in the UK as well as Fashion Revolution Cyprus. Both Founders, Christina Dymiotis and Anastasia Philippou were members of the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Programme between Cyprus and the UK, which was launched by the Royal Commonwealth Society and Clarion Futures. The programme called on young leaders to develop a social action project that would benefit their local community. Henceforth, Tsemberi’s founders identified two key issues in Cypriot society. The lack of education on sustainability (especially fashion sustainability) and the lack of opportunities for young people in the arts/fashion sector. As a result, they developed the idea for the Tsemberi Fashion Project. The Tsemberi Fashion Project team consists of 23 young Cypriots living both in Cyprus, the UK and the Netherlands working remotely in different departments from marketing, and coordination to event planning. The project has two main aims: To promote elements of fashion sustainability and circular fashion by introducing to our community alternative/greener ways to purchase and treat clothes. To provide opportunities to young Cypriots from all communities to work collaboratively and to promote their work through exhibitions, social media campaigns and short films. Fashion sustainability and circular economy has always been a significant aspect of Cypriot heritage. However, over the years this notion started to fade away in Cyprus due to various social and economical reasons. Nonetheless, here at Tsemberi Fashion Project, we want to re-introduce this notion back into people’s lives, with the goal of minimising clothing waste, which has a negative impact on our environment. We believe that by connecting the notion of fashion sustainability with Cypriot heritage, which is deeply embedded within every Cypriot’s identity, we will enable them to familiarize themselves with the concept more efficiently. It will give them the opportunity to reflect and rethink their current purchasing habits (and in general the way they treat their clothes), and to give space for the adaptation of fashion sustainability tactics. The question is simple "If our ancestors were sustainable, why can’t we be too?" Hence, through our fashion exhibitions, we strive to keep this sustainability legacy alive by exploring the beauty and uniqueness of Cypriot fashion heritage. It is no secret that in Cyprus young people in the arts sector, including fashion designers do not have many job opportunities. Accordingly, Tsemberi Fashion Projects works as a platform for young Cypriot fashion designers to showcase their work via social media campaigns, short videos and exhibitions, where they will be able to network with industry professionals. It is important to highlight that during their participation in the project, fashion designers, had the opportunity to attend meetings with local Cypriot sustainable fashion designers, as well as in-person fashion workshops and also had their work shared with the global fashion network, the Commonwealth Fashion Council. Overall, we strive to help young Cypriot fashion designers to grow as fashion designers and gain some exposure both on a local and global level. The final step of the project concluded with a fashion exhibition that took place in Nicosia on the 7-8 May 2022. At the exhibition the designers showcased their zero-waste and sustainable fashion designs inspired by Cypriot heritage. We were very honoured to have had the presence and support of members of the Royal Commonwealth Society and Clarion Futures. The exhibition was a massive success and was covered both in online and offline media. The project continues through the Fashion Heritage Network Cyprus which is led by Christina Dymiotis. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Christina Dymiotis is a Sheffield based Social Entrepreneur and Marketing professional. She holds a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Cyprus and an MSc in Marketing Management from the University of Sheffield. Moreover, she’s an active member of the Greek and Cypriot diaspora community in the UK and a fashion sustainability activist. Follow Tsemberi on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news and updates. Tsemberi Fashion Project continues through the Fashion Heritage Network Cyprus which is led by Christina Dymiotis. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales announced pan-Commonwealth commitment to The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QCC) at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda, on 24 June 2022. Launched at the Malta CHOGM in 2015 with the vision of creating a pan-Commonwealth network of forest conservation projects that marked Her Majesty The Queen’s service to the Commonwealth and conserved indigenous forests for future generations, the QCC is the first environmental initiative in The Queen’s name. From an initial commitment by seven countries at its launch, all 54 Commonwealth Member States have now joined the QCC, collectively dedicating some 115 sites and projects around the Commonwealth and conserving more than 12 million hectares of indigenous forests and botanical gardens. Announcing pan-Commonwealth commitment, The Prince of Wales said: “Throughout her Reign, The Queen has placed, and continues to place, the greatest importance on the common friendship, humanity, and values that all of us share… and I know how grateful she is that, in recognition of Her Majesty’s unstinting service to our Commonwealth family, all Commonwealth Member States have announced that they have now committed themselves to The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.” Conceived by the Rt. Hon. The Lord Field of Birkenhead, CH, PC, DL, of the United Kingdom, the QCC has been led by the Royal Commonwealth Society, in partnership with Cool Earth and the Commonwealth Forestry Association. The Executive Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Dr Linda Yueh, said: “The QCC is a truly remarkable example of the Commonwealth taking concrete action to create a brighter, common future for its 2.5 billion citizens. This initiative has seen government and non-government actors come together to conserve a vast range of forest types around the Commonwealth, including several UNESCO World Heritage sites and forests that our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, has visited during her 70 years of service to the Commonwealth. It is a delight to announce this pan-Commonwealth commitment during this momentous year and we look forward to welcoming new members to the QCC as the Commonwealth family grows in the future.” Lord Field, Co-Founder of Cool Earth, said: “This inspiring project has brought together 54 countries in common cause, with millions of trees being planted as part of the QCC by tens of thousands of Commonwealth citizens. Today, we celebrate this remarkable achievement and create a lasting legacy to The Queen’s unstinting and inspirational service to the Commonwealth.” Alan Pottinger, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Forestry Association, said: “People and forests need each other, and it is this important concept that lays at the heart of this wonderful initiative. With project sizes varying from those covering millions of hectares to those covering just a few, the QCC demonstrates the ability of the Commonwealth to act together to conserve one of its most important habitats - forests.”

(Photo: The Honourable Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Member of Parliament (Mchinji South Constituency) This article is about a woman who beat all odds to become Member of Parliament, before being appointed Deputy Minister of Agriculture in Malawi. The story challenges gender stereotypes on women’s leadership and proves that women can lead if they are given opportunity. The story covers the short biography of the Honourable Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma and her achievements as a leader. Gender equality in the political arena currently has high international appeal. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, target 5.5) demands gender equality, asking countries “to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in politics, economics and public life”. Women’s equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal by 2030 (Inge & Happy, 2014). However, data shows that women are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making worldwide. Achieving gender parity in politics is far off (UN Women, 2021). CYGEN member Aubrey Chidziwisano caught up with The Honourable Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Member of Parliament (MP) in Mchinji South Constituency in Mchinji district, Malawi in a phone interview in November 2021. Her story shows that women have the capacity and the potential to contribute to national development and beyond. Her story challenges traditional views about women leadership and proves that women have potential and capacity to lead and contribute to national development. The Hon. Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma’s career path is an inspiration to women and girls who aspire to become leaders. Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma was born in Nkhwazi village, Traditional Authority Mabvere, Mchinji district-Malawi. At the age of 6, Nkusa Nkhoma moved from Nkhwanzi village to Kamwendo trading centre where her father was in business. Nkusa Nkhoma started her education at Nkhwazi primary school, later moving to Kamwendo primary school. She sat for her Primary School Leaving Certificate at Ludzi girls primary school, passing on the second attempt, after which she was selected to attend Thyolo Secondary School in Thyolo district. As a result of bullying and being in a mixed-gender school for the first time, her academic performance suffered – and again she had to wait until her second attempt before receiving the Malawi School Certificate of Education. Nkusa Nkhoma then became pregnant when she was 19 years old and her parents forced her to get married. After being married for almost 11 years, she decided to go back to school, starting form 4 at Likuni Boys Secondary school where she attended night classes. Nkusa Nkhoma retook the Malawi School Certificate of Education – and was successful at the first attempt. Nkusa Nkhoma decided to join politics in 2009 after being approached by a group of politicians who encouraged her to compete as Member of Parliament at Mabvere. She campaigned for Member of Parliament in Mchinji South Constituency (Mabvere) in 2009 where she got 2,000 votes. During her campaign, women were laughed at and looked down upon. She was mocked with the Chichewa proverb “Ng’ombe yaikazi singakoke ngolo'' which means “women are not capable of leading”. In 2019, through encouragement, dedication, commitment and passion, Nkusa Nkhoma campaigned again in the same constituency where she won the election with over 5,000 votes. She is currently a Member of Parliament for Mchinji South Constituency and Deputy Ministry of Agriculture. Her Ministerial Portfolio not only gives her the opportunity to serve the country, but also to share important knowledge about agriculture with people in her area. The Hon. Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma is a role model to young women and girls. “Women should not be discouraged by what people say about you. Stay committed, and focused to achieve goals,” said Nkusa Nkhoma in her advice to women and girls – and ignore the cultural and patriarchal stereotypes that women in politics are promiscuous or morally depraved. She encourages women to participate in politics so they can voice their issues. References: UN Women, 2021. Women’s Leadership and Political Participation: UNwomen.org INGE A. & Happy K, 2014, Women in Politics in Malawi. Chr. Mechelsen Institute. Zayambika, O. 2020. Malawi: Nkusa Nkhoma Speaks On Her Appointment As Deputy Minister. Allafrica.com ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aubrey Chidziwisano is a gender activist, social researcher, freelancer and educationist who loves to share knowledge and advocate for gender equality. Aubrey works with Concerned Youth Organization as Project Officer on a project aimed at improving gender inequalities index. Aubrey is a member of Commonwealth Youth Gender Equality Network (CYGEN), a youth-led network that actively promotes and supports the meaningful inclusion of youth voices on gender equality issues in local, national, region, commonwealth and international agendas. Aubrey Chidziwisano has a Bachelor of Communication and Cultural Studies from the University of Malawi, Chancellor College. Connect with Aubrey on LinkedIn and Facebook. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

The world of work continues to be affected by the evolving dynamics of the pandemic, which continues to widen disparities among young people. The 8th Edition of the ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the world of work reports lagging and uncertain recovery, with young people suffering greater employment deficits. Prospects for labour market recovery continue to look weak and uncertain in the coming years. While young people continue to be disproportionately affected by the economic crises, there have been clear gendered impacts of the crises. Women continue to face disproportionate job loss and declines in labour-force participation due to increased caregiving responsibilities. LGBTQ youth also suffer from stigma and vulnerability to workforce discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). They continue to be at risk of economic insecurities, disproportionate economic hardships, and unemployment. Young people with disabilities encounter a multitude of challenges in the workplace, including societal stigma, lack of special or supportive facilities in workplaces that would allow them to take up employment, and unwillingness of employers to accommodate people with special needs. The pandemic has also highlighted deep-rooted inequalities in the employment market. Black and ethnic minority youth continue to face a wide range of employment challenges due to discrimination, bias, prejudice, and racism. The ILO Brief, Update on the youth labour market impact of the COVID- 19 crises, reveals the falls in youth employment with an increase in the rate of young people not in employment, education or training (the NEET rate). CONSTRAINTS AFFECTING YOUTH TRANSITION POST PANDEMIC Varying multidimensional factors continue to constrain youth transitioning to employment: from unpaid caregiving responsibilities impeding women's workforce participation, to discrimination due to sexual orientation and gender identity, racial disparities affecting black, indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC) youth, to obstacles in accessing decent work for people with disabilities. Severe disruption in education due to school closures and unequal access to online learning has widened disparities in learning. Obsolete and irrelevant educational curricula and practices for youth in school continues to impede suitable skills training and experience. Changes in job entry requirements has made transition from school to work harder, with longer qualifying periods. Increased demand for advanced and highly-skilled individuals continues to pose greater challenges for young labour market entrants, which further leads to inactivity, unemployment, underemployment, exemption from labour market participation, and redundancy. The economic conditions have led to an upsurge in temporary and part time contracts, unstable and insecure jobs, high competition for jobs available, and lower paying jobs. Reluctance of employers to return to full-time and permanent employment models has increased reduced earnings, temporary furlough and job uncertainty. These constraints continue to influence and cause long lasting impacts on career trajectories, future employment, competition for jobs and earnings prospects of young people. The impacts of the economic crisis on young people continue to be drastic, with difficulty in transiting from school to work, early experiences about realities of job scarcity, and unemployment. The pandemic has also accelerated the rate of automation, with jobs becoming obsolete under the rapid pace of technological advancement. Existing and new jobs require digitisation, high skill levels, and new labour requirements, causing a disconnect for young people with out-dated school-based teaching, and limited experience. CHANGES IN THE FUTURE OF WORK The pandemic has accelerated a radical shift in the world of work, spurring the future of work to arrive sooner than expected. The pace of technological use and adoption continues to grow, creating a huge digital divide. The crisis has further prompted the accelerated rate of the shifting megatrends redefining the world of work; for example, digitalisation is rapidly transforming how jobs are done and the skills required to perform them. While digitalisation has led to job displacement and a widening of digital divide, it continues to foster pathways for new and more jobs to become available, improving work quality through digital tools and technologies, access to digital platforms, and fostering innovation and creativity. Automation and Artificial Intelligence has continued to transform digital models in several sectors: finance; health care; manufacturing; retail; and e-commerce with high efficiency rates. It has shifted skills requirement with increased demand for technological skills, IT skills and digital skills. Flexible and remote working – working anytime, anywhere – is the new normal of post pandemic workplace flexibility, offering both new opportunities and new challenges with online technologies supporting the framework of workers collaboration remotely. The Gig Economy has continued to transform, reinvent and redefine the nature of jobs, work settings, and an overhaul of the workforce. It is reimagining jobs from traditional work settings, challenging why, where, when, how work gets done, work content, and work routines. Independent work continues to rapidly evolve with demand for services on digital platforms, online marketplaces, and technology-savvy youth who desire to work. The future of work megatrend has presented contrasting realities from the economic crises. Significant job loss and redundancy from increased automation disproportionately affects young people with low skill and educational attainment levels. Additionally, increased digitisation has led to employers seeking highly skilled youth, further putting strain on achieving inclusive growth and potentially raising income inequality. Similarly, adaptability to pandemic response with shifts to digital technology, remote working, use of digital platforms and digital transactions have become drivers for high GDP and productivity for companies and businesses. Conversely, rigidness and inability to adapt to online space has affected many companies’ revenue, leading to downtick of demands, downsizing of workers and closure of businesses. REVIEW OF YOUTH TRANSITION POLICY PRACTICE AND PROGRAMMES IN COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES The varying level of work transitioning policy, practices and approaches adopted in different countries, including austerity youth transition policy, social and welfare programmes, short-term empowerment schemes, business support schemes, have proven the need for re-evaluation and re-assessment. The pandemic has caused a staggering surge in unemployment, under employment, redundancy and job insecurity. Different schemes have been set up by Caribbean countries to tackle youth unemployment. The Youth Entrepreneurship Program For The Eastern Caribbean (YEPEC) aims to expand access to entrepreneurial support activities for young people throughout participating Caribbean countries (Barbados, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda). The Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (YEP), provides support by expanding and strengthening entrepreneurship support services for vulnerable youth in 11 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. There have also been varying initiatives in various Caribbean countries on tackling youth unemployment, such as the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) programme in Jamaica, which provides core training, volunteerism, entrepreneurship and apprenticeship programmes for young people who are not employed or enrolled in a school or training programme. Similarly, The Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme (YTEPP) in Trinidad and Tobago, provides core training of technical and vocational skills to enhance prospects of sustainable employment or self-employment for at-risk youths. Despite the range of programmes in the Caribbean, youth unemployment persists. The various programmes are sometimes piecemeal, short-lived, and faced with economic challenges. An influx of similar and redundant skills and expertise by youth continues to over-saturate and outweigh the demand of the labour market. While the recently launched Youth Economy project in Saint Lucia holds prospects in turning hobbies into entrepreneurship through finance training and mentoring for young people, it is critical to re-evaluate, re-structure and expand training models and curriculum for all programmes and initiatives to meet the growing demands of an emerging digitised workforce. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) in India, addresses youth employability and skills development through short-term training for increased productivity of the workforce. While the programme has empowered young people with skills and training, the pandemic has brought a rapid shift in essential skills, prioritising digitisation and skill mapping creativity, which demands an overhaul of the training provided. The Youth Employment Programme (YEP) in Mauritius bridges the gap between education and labour market through training and placement of youth to acquire the requisite skills and gain valuable work experience. The N-power scheme in Nigeria aims at tackling youth unemployment through skill enhancement and Learn-Work-Pay culture in Nigeria. Despite the intervention scheme, unemployment rate continues to soar with an underwhelming number of beneficiaries and disengagement after two years to return to the unemployment pool, further saturating the labour market. While short-term employment programmes can be pivotal in engaging young people, enhancing their skillset and facilitating their entry into the labour market, these programmes are not sufficient to enhance sustainability. Evidently, youth transition policy, practice, programmes and approaches masked in populist handouts, social and welfare programmes, short-term empowerment schemes only provide superficial and temporary reprieve from the grim realities of economic crises. STRAEGIES TO IMPROVE POLICEIS THAT SUPPORT YOUTH TRANSITION TO EMPLOYMENT The 2021 edition of the OECD Employment Outlook: Navigating COVID-19 Crises and Recovery, report highlights how to navigate the COVID-19 crisis and recovery through building resilient and inclusive labour markets. 1. Prioritising essential thematic areas: Given the fragility, and evolving dynamics of post pandemic recovery, policy processes and approaches should reflect the thematic priority areas of intervention, that is, employability, entrepreneurship, training, and equality and rights, with a focus on expanding key sectors that can create decent jobs for youth, and job retention programmes. 2. Intersectional policy approach: A youth transitioning policy should not be one-size-fits-all policy. Intersectional approaches must be prioritised, with gender, economic status, social backgrounds, sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), disability and other relevant dimensions accounted for in policy processes, implementation and quota allocation. 3. All round sync in education and employment sectors: Effective lifelong learning and training systems that streamline need-to-know skills, reflecting interests and capabilities alongside labour market demands must be prioritised in an increasingly digitised society. Education systems must reflect the changing digitisation trends in the curriculum to equip young people with the work skills they will need in the future. Employers should be involved in the planning and implementation of educational curricula and apprenticeship programmes to reflect the soft and hard skills needed to get job opportunities that actually exist in the labour market. 5. Inter-generational partnership among Commonwealth countries: Forging and maintaining effective partnerships among Commonwealth countries are essential for quality and sustainability of youth employment programmes. Exchange programmes across education and training institutions, businesses and support services for young people between developed and emerging economies can foster positive learning outcomes and bridge the digital divide. For instance, The International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) in Canada, offers the opportunity for Canadian youth to gain professional experience abroad through conducting remote international development work. 6. Sustainable Scheme for Job Creation: Job creation schemes should be transitional, integrated, sustainable, inclusive and long-term driven to foster key recovery from the impacts of crises for the youth labour force. Creating entry-level job opportunities, implementing school-to-work apprenticeships and on-the-job training programmes, as well as supporting young entrepreneurs through grants are key drivers of tackling youth unemployment. With the emergence of the gig economy and remote working, youth transition policy must strike a right balance between fostering job stability, flexibility and labour mobility. 7. Centring young people in decision-making processes: Consultation and participation processes must used to involve and engage young people in policy making forums and implementation phases. Effective communication mechanisms should be deployed to facilitate meaningful dialogue and engagement of young people in design and implementation of programmes so that their needs are reflected. The varying fiscal schemes adopted by different countries to limit the impact of the pandemic must be prolonged for optimal recovery – and matched with national policies that support job creation and retention. This means coherent large-scale interventions that provide efficient investment in an inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery. REFERENCES: ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the world of work. 8th edition International Labour Organization Policy Brief: Gender equality and the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic International Labour Organization Brief on "Update on the youth labour market impact of the COVID- 19 crises World Economic Forum; The future of jobs report 2020 Leeds University Business School; Digitalisation and the Future of Work. IBM: What is Automation The European Business Review; The Impact of Remote Work on the Future of Work McKinsey Global Institute: Future of Works After COVID-19 World Economic Forum; "What is the gig economy and what's the deal for gig workers?" European Commission; Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion OECD iLibrary: Navigating COVID-19 Crises and Recovery ABOUT THE AUTHOR Taofeekat Adigun is a member of the Commonwealth Youth Gender and Equality Network (CYGEN) and founder of Student Network, a youth-led network in Nigeria with a focus on upskilling and reskilling young people, and a Millennium Campus Fellow for 2021. Through her work in policy processes and youth transition, she continues to champion youth participation, inclusion, gender equality and advancing the rights of young people. Twitter: twitter.com/taoffy_gun The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

On Saturday, 4 June 2022 Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, Vice-Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society joined the BBC Cultural Frontline to talk with host Tina Daheley about The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition, the world's oldest international writing competition for schools. In this special programme, Her Royal Highness is also joined by two competition winners, Ethan Charles Mufuma from Uganda and Hiya Chowdhury from India who both share how the competition has impacted their lives. Also in this programme, The Duchess shares her passion for books and how her father instilled in her a love of reading. We hear from Nigerian novelist Chigozie Obioma, Jamaican writer Nicole Dennis-Benn and Sri Lankan writer Shehan Karunatilaka.

I Stand for Change Cyprus is a project which celebrates the LGBTQ+ Community in Cyprus and to aims remove the prejudice associated around it. This project is evolving by trying to include people from both the South part of Cyprus and North part of Cyprus. The LGBTQ+ Community in Cyprus is one of the most discriminated communities, which causes minorities to not only be afraid of their lives but also flee the country. This is a video project that was filmed in 2021 and is currently being edited. We are using the sun and colours to show how beautiful LGBTQ+ people are and how everyone beyond and in the binary can express themselves through colours, make up and the clothes that they are wearing. It was important to us to show the bright side of this community and how creative, kind and open minded the people in it can be. We have gathered volunteers from all over Cyprus to celebrate being queer by writing on posters and quotes about the LGBTQ+ community, expressing their deepest concerns. Alongside the upcoming video, we photographed volunteers holding their signs and some of the pride flags, making a collage and a colourful Instagram account. Our future plans include the finalization of the video and an art exhibition where we can showcase it, as well as other LGBTQ+ artists’ work (including poetry, paintings, short films etc). ABOUT THE AUTHOR I am Christia Demetriou, the founder of I Stand for Change Cyprus. I am a 21 year old Economics student at the University of Cyprus and the President of the LGBTQ+ and Allies Club of my University. I am an activist and a public speaker on LGBTQ+ rights while advocating for human rights. I have been working with various voluntary projects, as well as High Commissioners in Cyprus who are fighting for equality (#diplomatsforequality). Follow I Stand for Change Cyprus on Instagram. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

The physical and digital worlds are increasingly intertwined when it comes to safety. Prejudices that manifest online can lead to physical harm, and LGBTQI+ people are increasingly prone to security threats. It is therefore necessary for LGBTQI+ citizens in Commonwealth countries with restrictive legislations to be aware of the intersection of their human rights and technology. This article aims to act as a guide with practical means for LGBTQI+ individuals to take their rights to privacy and security into their own hands. The Sexual Offences Act, which came into force on 27 July 1967, decriminalised private sexual activity between men over the age of 21 in England and Wales. Scotland followed in 1980 and Northern Ireland in 1982. Since then, more than 30 countries have decriminalised homosexuality across the Commonwealth. However, in many other Commonwealth countries, there are still many barriers preventing LGBTQIA+ people from enjoying full equality. From the ban on same-sex marriage to hate crimes, abuse, harassment, jail and even the death penalty, the list of perils threatening LGBTQIA+ people because of their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics is lengthy. While activists and advocates are lobbying intensively for the reform of discriminatory laws, it may take years or even decades for their efforts to come to fruition. In the meantime, LGBTQIA+ people run the risk of being tracked down, persecuted and subjected to violence, especially in the wake of the pandemic when most activities have shifted to the virtual space. Thus, it becomes incumbent on LGBTQIA+ people to ensure their own safety and security in both the physical and digital worlds. Here are a few safety measures for you, as an LGBTQIA+ individual, to protect yourself online and offline, particularly to avoid accidental disclosures when you need to keep your identity secret to avoid persecution. 1. Delayed posts You are at the beach, soaking in the sun and sipping on a fancy cocktail. But are you even on vacation if you do not post a picture of it on social media? And if you do, you might as well be slapping a huge sign on your front door that says “Out of Town!” That house tour video you posted when you first moved in is now a map to enter your home in your absence, especially if you have been placed under surveillance. Spies who have been assigned to keep an eye on your whereabouts could use this opportunity to break in and collect evidence of your lifestyle and contacts. Similarly, your personal safety can be compromised if you reveal information such as your date of birth. Then again, why else did you order that elaborate backdrop, balloons with your age number and extravagant cake for your birthday party if you cannot post photos of them? Tip: Save the holiday pictures and share them after you are back home. Post the birthday celebration photos a few days after the actual party so that your date of birth cannot be determined. This will make it more difficult to keep tabs on you. 2. Customised privacy settings A notification of a new friend or follower is generally exciting – and tempts you to grow your number of connections on social media. However, some ‘friends’ can be problematic by introducing spam into your timeline. Some may even have criminal intentions. Tip: When accepting friends, choose people whom you know personally. Instead of deferring to default settings, adjust your privacy settings so that you can block spammers and harassers. You can also opt to limit the information that is available to the public from your account. 3. Cautious online dating A couple of weeks ago, you posted about how sad and lonely you feel. Then, a few days ago, you met this new person online. You two are around the same age, like the same sports team and enjoy the same films – it seems like the starts have finally aligned for you! Over a seemingly short period of time, you have grown close and you just sent them provocative pictures and videos of you. You have suggested meeting in person multiple times, but they keep stalling for various reasons. While you may tend to ignore the red flags at first, these are blatant attempts at catfishing to collect evidence that may be used to track you down. Seductive content may be used to blackmail you, or leaked to damage your reputation. Tip: Stop communicating with anyone who attempts to pressure you into providing them with your personal information. Do not share pictures or videos of yourself that gives someone any sort of hold over you. Be wary if they seem vague in their communication about your ‘shared’ interests that you posted about, or if they dodge questions or make excuses for not meeting or speaking on the telephone. Be careful when sharing your feelings of vulnerability online as many human traffickers prey on fragile LGBTQIA+ individuals who are isolated from their communities due to ostracism. Educate yourself about digital security, online dating and human trafficking. 4. Prudent career moves Are you job hunting? Then you probably assume that posting your full resume on certain job platforms will maximise your chances to secure employment. Likewise, you may presume that listing your workplace or announcing your new job will boost your networking options. However, educational history and work information can reveal significant details about your whereabouts and commute, thus exposing you to risks of persecution from those who are on the lookout for an opportunity to corner you. They can also create another account to impersonate you and post incendiary comments or offensive pictures, leading to embarrassment or even legal problems for you. Tip: Do not post your detailed resume on social networks. Email the document to reliable recipients instead. Omit personal details such as addresses and phone numbers in your public profile. If you are misrepresented online, usually you only need to request the platform to take down the fake profile. However, it is challenging and, at times, impossible to remove information from the digital space. In some instances, your information may even be captured via screenshot and used on blogs or news sites. More often than not, it might be difficult for you to recover from the damage caused to your intellectual property and reputation. 5. Secure data protection “I accept.” Raise your hand if you have merely scrolled through the text and checked the box. You are not entirely to blame though. Online platforms often include complex terminology to deter users from delving into the intricacies of the implications of the terms and conditions. One important element of such agreements is the use of your personal data. Social networking sites sometimes only inform you that there was a custom interaction with a given app or website, leaving you in the dark as to how, when and where this interaction happened, how your consent was obtained and how your data is being used for advertising by brands and third parties. Data brokers buy your personal data from companies that you do business with, collect data such as web browsing histories from a range of sources, combine it with other information about you, such as magazine subscriptions or purchasing histories, and sell their insights to anyone that wants to know more about you – from authoritarian governmental authorities to religious fundamentalists who are against LGBTQIA+ rights. Tip: In most Commonwealth countries, you have the right to ask for a copy of your personal data as well as other accompanying information about this data, such as where it originated from, what is being done with it and who it has been shared with. You can also go through Privacy International’s simple guide with step-by-step instructions on Data Subject Access Requests. This can be followed by a deletion request to ensure that the company does not keep any of your data if you do not want them to. 6. Safe protests Are you planning or attending a protest? Then you will probably use social media to organise marches, communicate with protestors, and upload photos and videos of protest. This may expose you and your fellow protestors to certain risks, especially if you are protesting in favour of LGBTQIA+ rights in conservative countries. Tip: Wear face coverings such as masks or bandanas to mask your identity. Ensure that the faces of other individuals are not recognisable before you post them online and do not tag them, particularly if they do not consent to their image being used. Avoid sharing your location and ensure that distinctive backgrounds such monuments or landmarks are not visible to prevent geolocation trails. Given the low security of cellular networks, consider the use of secure channels such as end-to-end encrypted messaging apps to share sensitive information. However, if you use cloud backup for any of your messaging apps, the content could still be accessed using cloud extraction tools. For detailed information about protecting yourself during protests, check out the ‘Free to Protest’ resources developed by Privacy International. Hopefully, someday, all Commonwealth countries will do away with the terrible remnants of colonial laws that discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people. Unfortunately, the timeline for that liberation remains uncertain. Until then, it might be better for you to safeguard your identity and information, particularly if you need to remain closeted. Disclaimer The digital space is diverse, and its practices evolve constantly. You will most likely never be able to block everything and avoid any personal data leak. This guide should nonetheless help you to reduce the risks that you might be unknowingly taking on social media. Please be aware that the author has not carried out an in-depth assessment of the security and privacy implications of the measures, products or services recommended in this guide. You are strongly encouraged to enquire into their suitability for your own purposes and devices, and to review each product's policies and features. ABOUT THE AUTHOR As legal lead of the #Reform53 campaign, Nandini Tanya Lallmon adopts a decolonial perspective on human rights across the Commonwealth. She invokes international law to protect LGBTQIA+ people from religion-based violence as United Nations Religion Fellow at OutRight Action International. Appointed as African Youth Charter Hustler for Mauritius by the African Union Office of the Youth Envoy, she ensures that youth voices are included in planning and decision-making processes. She leverages the power of traditional and social media to create learning, dialogue and development spaces that are respectful, inclusive and transformative. She is reachable on Twitter on @Nandini_Tanya and Instagram on @nandini_tanya. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

Sports has been endorsed as an innovative tool of social and sustainable development by the United Nations (UN, 2015; STĂNESCU et al., 2020). Sport is being widely adopted as a social tool by NGOs around the world to boost social campaigns, empower young people by providing them with life skills, and improve their mental and physical health (Asif, 2018). This study explores sport’s innovative role to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) advocacy for young people in Pakistan. Young people in Pakistan face a number of obstacles that hinder them from exercising fundamental SRHR, which is critical to reducing poverty and enhancing long-term health. SRHR is strongly linked to rights to life, liberty, health, choice, privacy, education, and inclusion (UNFPA). In a population of 200 million, of which young people constitute more than 60 per cent, the unavailability and unpopularity of SRHR has left young people vulnerable (F. Paracha, 2012). Youth-led NGOs such as Kafka Welfare Organisation (KWO) are stepping into this gap, using sports as a social and development tool to boost SRHR advocacy campaign in Punjab, Pakistan. They integrate sports and SRHR advocacy campaigns and use sports fields as safe spaces. In these safe spaces, young people, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, colour or race, talk openly about SRHR issues, learning from Kafka’s mentors and coaches. Through specifically designed, team-based and objective-oriented sports/physical activities, young people learn life skills, such as leadership, critical thinking, tolerance, confidence, and empathy, and sports skills, such as soccer (Kay, 2009; Schulenkorf, 2010). In addition, they learn about sportsmanship on the field and learn social and moral values that are relevant in their daily lives (Asif, 2018). Lastly, sports gives girls awareness of their bodies, unsettles the gender order, and breaks down social barriers (Women Win). Social sports programmes and physical activities help to improve mental and physical health of young people by reducing trauma, stress, anxiety and depression (Lyras, 2009; H Mirahmadi, 2016; Kubesch et al., 2003). At the same time, adoption of social values such as inclusion, acceptance, mutual respect, responsibility, discipline, and understanding of diversity help to counter discrimination and breakdown social barriers and isolation (Cardenas 2013; Johns et al., 2014; Hall, 2011; Lyras, 2009; Asif, 2018). The study has used a qualitative method of open-ended interviews, and analysis of available documents, such as organisational reports and online articles to collect data. Three coaches from Kafka Welfare Organisation (KWO) and the Your Choice Your Life joint programme by KWO and International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP) were interviewed and participants’ data were collected from published articles and organisational reports. The collected data was analysed through thematic coding. One participant said “During activities (…) I experienced equality (…). We are all equal (…) Now I accept people from all backgrounds and cultures”. Sport has the power to help young people transcend barriers and differences by uniting them through friendship and team spirit. Another participant said, “We felt safe and easy to talk about sexual health and related issues (…) we learned about our bodies and its rights.” This indicates that such safe spaces have the potential to help in SRHR advocacy and to deal with the stigma and taboos associated with it. Young people also felt empowered through improved confidence and self-esteem. Each individual in the diverse groups of young people were included and accepted without judgement. They followed game rules, demonstrated sportsmanship, accepted each other, played together, had fun and became friends. Social ties also strengthened communities and created a sense of belonging, helping to develop trust. Due to mutual trust and ice-breaking through fun-based activities, participants were able to share their experiences, particularly the female participants. Soccer was used to educate young people about contraception using UNAID's innovative approach. That is, just like a goalkeeper is needed to prevent a goal, contraceptives are essential to prevent diseases or unwanted pregnancies. Such innovative methods were more effective to deliver the message among young participants of the programme (Mindthis Magazine, 2017). Fun elements, such as happiness and social ties helped participants to improve their mental health, which is key to sexual and reproductive health and an empowered life. The study explored sport’s innovative role in boosting SRHR advocacy. Overall, it was found that sport works as an innovative and powerful tool to help to boost and advance SRHR advocacy. It also empowers young people and helps to improve mental health. The study recommends that relevant organisations adopt sports as a tool in SRHR programmes and campaigns. It also encourages researchers to explore this topic further (for example, through comparative studies) to see different dimensions and perspectives. References: 아시프. (2018). Sports for Development and Peace and Violent Extremism: The role of Sports for Development and Peace programs to prevent violent extremism among youth in Pakistan (Doctoral dissertation, 서울대학교 대학원). Cárdenas, A. (2013). Peace building through sport? An introduction to sport for development and peace. Journal of Conflictology, 4(1), 4. F. Paracha, N. (2012, May 31). Islamic fundamentalism and youth in Pakistan. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/722828 Hall, N. (2011). “Give it everything you got”: Resilience for young males through sport. International Journal of Men’s Health, 10(1), 65. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/873623856?accountid=6802 Johns, A., Grossman, M., & Mcdonald, K. (2014). " More Than a Game " The Impact of Sport-Based Youth Mentoring Schemes on Developing Resilience toward Violent Extremism. Social Inclusion, 2(2), 2183–2803. https://doi.org/10.17645/si.v2i2.167 Kay, T. (2009). Developing through sport: evidencing sport impacts on young people. Sport in Society, 12(9), 1177–1191. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430430903137837 Kubesch, S., Bretschneider, V., Freudenmann, R., Weidenhammer, N., Lehmann, M., Spitzer, M., & Grön, G. (2003). Aerobic endurance exercise improves executive functions in depressed patients. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 64(9), 1005–12. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.v64n0905 Lyras, A. (2009). Sport for Peace and Development Theory. Proceedings of the 17th Conference of the European Association for Sport Management, Amsterdam, 46–48. Retrieved from http://www.easm.net/download/%0A2009/e3dece8b021d92b421cf031a7c70f4f1.pdf Mirahmadi, H. (2016). Building Resilience against Violent Extremism: A Community-Based Approach. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 668(1), 129. Mindthismagazine. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.mindthismagazine.com/world-aids-day-nigeria-uganda-can-teach-us/ STĂNESCU, M., Bota, A., Bejan-Muresan, R., & Corlaci, I. (2020). Sport Activities in Romania-A Tool for Social Innovation. Romanian Journal for Multidimensional Education/Revista Romaneasca pentru Educatie Multidimensionala, 12(1). Schulenkorf, N. (2010). Bridging the Divide: The Role of Sport Events in Contributing to Social Development Between Disparate Communities, 127–132. United Nations. (2015) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Geneva: United Nations. UNFPA Pakistan (n.d.). United Nations Population Fund. Retrieved from https://pakistan.unfpa.org/en/topics/sexual-and-reproductive-health-9 Women Win (N.d.). Retrieved from https://guides.womenwin.org/srhr/introduction/why-sport-to-address-srhr ABOUT THE AUTHOR Umair is a social and sports activist working in Pakistan. He is a faculty member at the Physical Education and Sports Sciences department at GC University Lahore, Pakistan. He is also founder of Kafka Welfare Organisation Pakistan that has been working to build a healthy society for young people. This article is about the use of sports as a social and development tool to improve young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights advocacy. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @ranaumairasif The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

YL Project Hope CIC is a project that is youth led for young people set up by two young people who saw a need for a project to help combat youth loneliness during COVID-19. Initially set up in March 2020 within just two weeks YL Project Hope was created out of an idea that we ran with to help people come together online while the world was becoming less connected physically. For many people there was a need for human connection but for those aged 13-25 we saw that many didn't know how to connect online. Whereas for myself and my friend who set up the project, our friendship has always been predominantly online and as a result COVID-19 did not change our friendship greatly. Project Hope initially ran two to three online sessions a week in a youth group style set-up which young people could join. We used Eventbrite for people to book and created safeguarding policies to ensure everyone was safe. We ran activities such as creative writing, games night, open mic nights, quizzes, educational topics, art sessions, baking sessions, learning a new language and so much more. It became apparent that this was needed and well received by so many as sessions had from four to 80 young people depending on the day, activity and time. We were asked by charities and projects to run sessions for their colleagues about running activities for young people that are youth led. As a result we decided to run our own conference which consisted of four sessions in a ‘lunch and learn’ manor and we engaged over 200 individuals. Each session was on a different topic decided by young people and ran by young people. We were able to engage various different groups of young people to support us. Since then we’ve ran workshops, talks and activities for adults and young people to understand the importance of youth voice. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Amelia Collis-Patel MBE is passionate about making a difference and having a positive impact. She is determined to fight injustice and create community so individuals can learn off one another as she believes we all have something to teach and learn. Amelia has been fortunate enough to participate in several opportunities but to also to create her own opportunities to ensure she is always an advocate for others. Find out more about YL Project Hope CIC by following them on their social media channels. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.