The Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF 2022), which is held in parallel with the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), took place in Kigali, Rwanda between 19-21 June 2022 with the theme of ‘Taking Charge of our Future’.
The Commonwealth Youth Forum during CHOGM provides an opportunity for young people of the Commonwealth to build cross-cultural connections and networks, deliberate on youth-led initiatives addressing emerging issues impacting young people, strategise on perspectives to influence decision makers and ensure young people have a voice and agency in its future.
CYF 2022’s theme ‘Taking Charge of our Future’ captures the aspirations and ambitions of our new generation leaders in championing an inclusive and prosperous Commonwealth where young people are key actors and equal stakeholders in shaping the future.
The CYF reinforced young people’s involvement across the Commonwealth in devising solutions to complex global challenges as well as providing intergenerational spaces to enhance their ability to bring forward meaningful recommendations to the Heads of Government meeting. The Forum also included opportunities for plenary discussions and action planning breakout sessions, focussed around CHOGM's themes.
CYF incorporated the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) General Assembly (the highest decision making gathering of young people in the Commonwealth). The CYC General Assembly enables young people to take stock of the progress of youth-led action addressing development challenges. The CYC is the recognised voice of over 1.2 billion young people from all across the Commonwealth, advocating on their behalf on issues such as climate change, employment, access to education, universal health coverage and gender equality.
Planning for the CYF and the creation of the agenda was undertaken by a youth-led international Taskforce in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) and the Government of Rwanda. The Taskforce is co-chaired by the CYC Vice Chairperson for Inclusion and Engagement, and the Chairperson of National Youth Council of Rwanda.
Press releases
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Young people with a passion for sustainable development urged to join new Commonwealth network
Commonwealth Digital Trade Hackathon launches at final day of Youth Forum
Links for livestream recordings are available below.
Sunday 19 June
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11am-12pm – Official Commonwealth Youth Forum Opening CeremonyThe Commonwealth Youth Forum will officially begin with Welcome Remarks, entertainment, and opening remarks from a Guest of Honour. |
12pm-1pm – Plenary One: Taking Charge of Our FutureThis panel will discuss the role of youth leadership in affecting needed change, and the roles of other actors. |
2pm-3.45pm – Youth Action Lab OneThe Action Lab events throughout the day are breakout sessions on the six CHOGM themes:
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4pm-5pm – Plenary Two: Reimagining SustainabilityThis session will include a keynote address and a line-up of experts, change makers and influencers which will explore and redefine sustainability under the current social, political, and economic context. |
5.15pm-5.45pm – Launch of Youth Led Initiatives: The Commonwealth Youth for Sustainable Urbanisation and Sustainable and Clean Energy Action Group |
5.45pm-6pm – Closing Debrief and Reflections |
6pm – Cultural Dinner Reception |
Monday 20 June
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9am-10.15am – Plenary Three: Youth Championing Innovation for Transformation and DevelopmentThis session will include a keynote address, sharing of stories of impact, and a panel of experts, change-makers and influencers who will explore Innovation, technology and how the youth can leverage their knowledge to accelerate impact. |
10.15am-10.45am – Launch of Youth Led Initiatives: Commonwealth Youth Taskforce for HPV awareness & Cervical Cancer Elimination and I AM Campaign for Cervical Cancer Elimination |
10.45am-12.30pm – Youth Action Lab Two
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1.30pm-2.45pm – Plenary Four: Co-creation and Strategic PartnershipThis session will include a keynote address, sharing of stories of impact, and a panel of experts, change makers and influencers who will provide tips and insights to identifying and forming strategic partnerships required to take projects and ideas forward. |
2.45pm-4pm – Youth Action Lab Three
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4pm-5pm – Plenary Five: The Economic Imperative: Skills Development for 21st Century JobsThis session will include a keynote address, sharing of stories of impact, and a panel of experts, change makers and influencers who will discuss in-demand skills, jobs and predicting needs of the future to future-proof young people and future generations. |
5.15pm-6pm – Fire side chatAn interaction between youth experts of inspirational experiences. |
6pm-9pm – City Immersion into Kigali |
Tuesday 21 June
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9am-12.30pm – Commonwealth Youth Council General Assembly and Capacity Building Sessions |
1.30pm-2.30pm – Closing Ceremony, Commonwealth Youth Council Installation and Action Plan Presentation |
2.30pm-5pm – Commonwealth StartUp Festival! A Celebration of Innovation and EntrepreneurshipThe Startup Festival is a celebration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the amazing contributions of Commonwealth Youth to addressing some of the world's greatest challenges brought to life through a collaboration of various ecosystem partners. |
Meet the Commonwealth Youth Forum Taskforce
Learn more about our Youth work
Contact the Commonwealth Youth team
View full schedule on the CHOGM 2022 page
Media contact
- Amy Coles Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
