30/8/26
In a virtual dialogue on 2026 International Youth Day, young leaders from five Commonwealth regions said resilient institutions should move beyond simply listening to young people and give them genuine influence over the decisions that shape their lives.
More than 50 young people joined the dialogue convened by the Commonwealth Youth Programme on 12 August. Speakers from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific shared sharply different realities but one common message: youth must be treated as partners in building inclusive, accountable and future-ready institutions.
The theme of the discussion, Different Contexts, Common Aspirations: Young People Rethinking Democratic Resilience, reflected the global International Youth Day theme, which recognises that young people may face different circumstances while sharing aspirations for dignity, opportunity and meaningful participation.
Democracy a team effort
From Jamaica, 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards Caribbean regional finalist Nahjae Nunes spoke about the country’s National Youth Advisory Council, which places youth advisers alongside ministers and senior civil servants. For him, democratic resilience is built not through “flowery speeches but in the unglamorous passageways between public voice and public decision”.
From Sri Lanka, Fathima Haneekah Rahil, Coordinator, Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network, described how young Sri Lankans are creating civic spaces through community and faith-based events, shared meals and running clubs, bringing together communities shaped by three decades of conflict. “Democracy is not something young people participate in once every few years,” she said. “It is something we practise within our communities every day.”
From Tuvalu, 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum International Taskforce member Eleala Avanitele made the point simply: “Democracy does not begin in parliament. It begins in our communities.”
For Avanitele, one of the clearest barriers to making that a reality is geography. With communities spread across islands, access to decision-makers differs sharply between the capital and outer islands. Institutions must work alongside traditional structures, she said, “so that no voice is too small to matter”.
Addressing participants, Abiola Sunmonu, Adviser and Head of Africa in the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Governance and Peace Directorate, compared democracy to Wi-Fi in a shared house where “people often notice it only when it stops working”. She urged young people to keep holding institutions accountable while building understanding rather than division.
“Democracy is not a spectator sport but a team effort. Democratic resilience comes from people who get involved, ask questions and listen to different perspectives,” said Abiola.
That message ran through the regional contributions. Speaking from an African perspective, the Commonwealth Youth Council Chairperson Joshua Opey said young Africans remain deeply interested in leadership and governance despite frustration with existing systems. “Young people are finding ways to make sure that democracy works, because we find that there’s no alternative,” he told participants.
Gap between participation and influence
Across the discussion, speakers drew a sharp distinction between being invited into the room and having the power to shape what happens next.
Opey described this as “the gap between participation and influence”, saying many youths find their views are not reflected in final decisions, despite being consulted.
Rahil said the challenge across Asia was not a lack of interest but a lack of confidence that institutions would respond. “Participation cannot simply mean inviting young people into a room, asking for their views, then continuing with business as usual,” she said.
Jasmine Brittan, UK Representative, Commonwealth Youth Council, pointed to the fragility of youth infrastructure and the damage caused when funding disappears.
Summarising the session, Youth Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat and moderator of the session Samson Shuaibu said:
“Across regions, the message was consistent: young people are already strengthening democracy in community groups, advisory councils and civic movements. The next test is turning youth participation into visible results.”
What young people want next
Participants proposed practical steps to turn youth voice into measurable influence, including:
- A new Commonwealth Youth Democratic Resilience Framework that member countries can adapt to national contexts and exchange solutions across regions.
- A clear requirement for all institutions to publish how young people’s recommendations were considered and acted upon.
- Greater investment in digital education and a Commonwealth-wide pipeline into digital jobs.
- Meaningful youth involvement before decisions are made, not consultation after the fact.
The recommendations will feed into the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum in Antigua and Barbuda from 1 to 4 November, held on the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The dialogue supports the Commonwealth Secretariat Strategic Plan 2025–2030, which puts democratic resilience at the heart of the organisation’s work and places youth development as a cross-cutting priority.
