With the population of persons affected by HIV and AIDS still growing, Angelique Pouponneau, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from the Seychelles, looks at discrimination that can still hamper productive lives. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there were approximately 36.9 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2014. Of these 2.6 million …

“Countries must invest in HIV positive citizens” Read More »

Depression is like a Dementor, writes Tahiya Islam, 23, a Correspondent from Dhaka in Bangladesh, in this personal essay about her own experience. I don’t want to bore you with the different definitions of depression; rather I want to share what I went or go through. You can be living the most perfect life ever, …

“Depression is my enemy and my ally!” Read More »

Examining the myths behind epilepsy takes on a personal meaning for Ashlee Burnett, 20, a Correspondent from Couva in Trinidad. We were introduced to each other when I was 16 years old. Before that, I heard it in a dance hall song, ““Hold mi like yuh really, really, really, really miss me Baby, yuh move …

“Epilepsy awareness with the colour purple” Read More »

Social media content is exposing youth to lifestyle and behaviour choices that may be misleading or dangerous, writes Kiyara Matambanadzo, 16, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Harare in Zimbabwe, who says teenagers must be informed at home and at school about countering those messages.  The problem of a seeming increase in vices such as drug abuse, …

“Education needed to counter messages” Read More »