Overcoming the effects of colonisation and building equality means creating peace and justice for all members of society, writes Bonolo Madibe, 20, a Correspondent from South Africa now living in the UK. Donald Trump’s uneducated, divisive and, quite frankly, fascist views have been accompanied by those of Oxford scholar Ntokozo Qwabe. Recently, Qwabe made headline …

“Disturbing whiteness and land claims” Read More »

Can gender equality exist, wonders Shannay Williams, 19, a Correspondent from St. Thomas in Jamaica, as she looks at whether equality means accepting distinct social roles or rejecting that idea entirely. There is no such thing as gender equality and for all intents and purposes, from my viewpoint speaking as a woman. How can gender equality exist, …

“Gender equality: debunking the myth” Read More »

To help dismantle the silos that plague society’s civil discourse, Mary-Jean Nleya, 24, a Correspondent from Botswana, sat down with Ms. Carol – a woman who sits daily on an Oxford street – to learn about life at the grassroots level. Their discussion covered politics, art, business, the economy and mental health care. Q: Hello. Please …

“I am at the bottom of the pile, but all are equal” Read More »

A small town in a troubled area provides a shining example of tolerance and faith, writes Nuraddeen Haruna Idris, 21, a Correspondent from Yobe State, Nigeria. I am a young person growing up in north eastern part of Nigeria where crises are taking place. For the past six years, many challenges have faced this region, …

“Tolerance and mutual support in a small town” Read More »

Standardised testing is a common academic measure, but Aura Whittier, 17, a Correspondent from San Juan, Trinidad, argues the powerful tool discriminates based on factors that students cannot control. There my friend was, sobbing uncontrollably in my arms. He burst into tears in front of his mother as soon as he received his results; again …

“Tests are standardised, but students are not” Read More »

The #IamABLE campaign for youth with disabilities stems from the request of young people from across the Commonwealth, including Antigua and Barbuda’s Commonwealth National Youth Delegates Jonelle Walsh and Kurt Williams. The campaign seeks to contribute towards the development of a more inclusive society by addressing the marginalisation and discrimination of people with disabilities in …

#IamAble: Antigua and Barbuda conference Read More »

Debate today continues around cultural appropriation – what it is, and whether it is different from cultural appreciation. Hana Syed, 21, a Correspondent from Toronto, Canada, writes that it is important to understand and highlight the differences between the two concepts. Cultural appropriation is adopting and profiting from elements from a culture outside of one’s own. These …

“Privilege can lead to cultural appropriation” Read More »

Child marriage is a problem that has persisted in spite of continuous struggle to eliminate it from society, writes Jamila Haruna, 25, a Correspondent from Kaduna state, Nigeria, who describes the system that forces young girls into becoming wives and mothers.  A Global Citizen record shows that at least one girl gets married off every two seconds, …

“Let her be a girl child, not a child bride” Read More »

Domestic workers are an essential yet almost invisible part of many households, writes Monica Islam, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Dhaka in Bangladesh, who argues for the recognition and fair treatment of these household members. Bangladeshi families are familiar with the word bua or bai. It has become the Bengali or Hindi equivalent of “maid …

“She is not just a Bua, but a valued worker” Read More »

Outstanding female athletes pay a great price – intense scrutiny. After many years in the shadows, women are finally taking their place in the sports limelight. But as with most other professions, they are finding that here too, there are double standards between their treatment and that of their male counterparts, writes Bonolo Madibe a 22-year-old …

More equal than others? Read More »