Member nations celebrated the UN’s 71st with focus on the SDGs. Kelechukwu Iruoma, 23, a Correspondent from Lagos in Nigeria writes that Nigeria, where Boko Haram sects have killed and displaced thousands, used the anniversary to focus on Internally Displaced Persons and solutions to their challenges. The event that marked the 2016 United Nations Day was …

“Contributing your share to help humanity” Read More »

Disappointed with missed Millennium Declaration targets, Folmi Yohanna, 27, a Correspondent from Kano in Nigeria, examines whether uneven progress will be addressed through the implementation of recently-adopted Sustainable Development Goals. The MDGs came into existence in September 2000, where leaders of 189 countries gathered at the United Nations and signed the historic Millennium Declaration, in which …

“From MDGs to SDGs: What is the next step?” Read More »

Uganda has natural wealth and a capable population, but Munguongeyo Ivan, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Kampala, Uganda, points out lingering and serious issues of poverty. He argues the problem is not resources, but corruption in how those resources are allocated.  Uganda is not a poor country. It’s a country endowed with plentiful natural resources with brilliant, …

“Fighting corruption to achieve the SDGs” Read More »

Efforts to eradicate poverty are traditionally aimed at men, writes Abdur Rafay Usmani, 22, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Karachi in Pakistan, who argues in support of research that shows better results come from directing aid and assistance to rural women. One of the biggest factors impeding sustained economic growth in the third world has been …

“Key to development: empower rural women” Read More »

Ghana has taken a bold step by introducing free senior high school education. Nutifafa Geh, a Commonwealth Correspondent alumni from Ho in Ghana, writes that the programme is earning praise and support. Education is power and an enabler, and to remove the financial barrier in accessing secondary education, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo …

“Free secondary school takes off in Ghana” Read More »

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development envisages a collective journey to ensure that no one is left behind. Mary-Jean Nleya, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Botswana, argues this is not just a journey for the educated, the elite, or the diplomats but a “collective journey” for the uneducated, micro business owners, the poor, and those at the …

“SDGs and conversations in a Malawi market” Read More »

Youth Entrepreneurs are being challenged to “be the change you want to see happen in this world”. The Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition is an activity of the UNESCO Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) It’s giving interested Correspondents and change agents a chance to “join the movement to create a peaceful …

Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship competition accepting submissions Read More »

Poverty, inequality and climate change are some of the global realities putting the future of our people and planet in jeopardy. Sarmad Shahbaz Bhutta, a 20-year-old Commonwealth Correspondent from Pakistan writes that the Sustainable Development Goals are not just a global initiative to achieve a sustainable future but a national plan for Pakistan that’s being pursued …

“New enthusiasm” for development goals Read More »

Communities around the world are facing waste management challenges that require innovative long-term solutions. Bobby Siarani, one of the winners of the 2019 Commonwealth Youth Awards has successfully led the implementation of one such project in the Solomon Islands. Alphonse Akouyu, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Cameroon now studying in Israel has his story. If …

Solomon Islands youth wins Commonwealth award for bio-gas project Read More »