Commonwealth Youth Programme


The Commonwealth Youth Programme, also known as CYP, is an international development agency working with young people between the ages of 15 and 29. Part of the Commonwealth Secretariat, CYP is active in the Commonwealth's 54 member countries. CYP has a head office in London with four centres in Africa, Lusaka, Zambia, Asia Chandigarh, India, Caribbean Georgetown, Guyana and Pacific Honiara, Solomon Islands. Currently there are Four Regional Directors and 16 programme officers plus support staff are working there.

About

The CYP's programme of work is decided mainly by Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting. Funded by Commonwealth governments through annual pledges to a voluntary fund, CYP is not a funding agency and does not provide financial support to any other organization.
CYP supports, and is supported by, a body of youth representatives called the Commonwealth Youth Caucus. The Youth Caucus meets at national, regional and pan-Commonwealth level to advise the programme. The Youth Caucus has a seat at Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting, and helps to organise the Commonwealth Youth Forum which meets prior to Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The Programme is supported by Queen Elizabeth II in her role as head of the Commonwealth. Princess Anne visited the Commonwealth Youth Programme Regional Centre for Africa in Lusaka, Zambia, in September 2012 as part of her four-day official visit to the country to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Activities

CYP provides government and youth-centred organisations with technical assistance in the areas of:
All of CYP's work falls within , which is the Commonwealth's organising framework for cooperation on youth affairs. Through the Plan of Action, Commonwealth Heads of Government have affirmed that: "empowering young people means creating and supporting the enabling conditions under which young people can act on their own behalf, and on their own terms, rather than at the direction of others."
CYP's mission statement states that "CYP works to engage and empower young people to enhance their contribution to development. We do this in partnership with young people, governments and other key stakeholders. Our mission is grounded within a rights-based approach, guided by the realities facing young people in the Commonwealth, and anchored in the belief that young people are:
CYP advocates the effective participation of young women and men in the development process and for social transformation. We value their full engagement at all levels of decision-making."

Youth Awards

The Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work celebrate the contribution of young people to achieving global development goals. The awards, presented to Commonwealth citizens aged 15–29, showcase the work of outstanding young people who are leading initiatives ranging from poverty alleviation to peace building.
Each year an outstanding entrant is named Commonwealth Young Person of the Year, with regional awards given for Asia, the Pacific, the Caribbean and Americas, Africa and Europe. The awards demonstrate to leaders and other policy-makers the importance of young people’s role in development. The awards also serve to inspire other young people to take action in their communities.
Development work can be within any number of areas, such as skills training, arts and culture, environment protection, education, health and well-being, human rights, technology, sport, science and many more areas.
YearAsiaAfricaPacificAmericasYoung Person of the Year
2012Anoka Primrose Abeyrathne Evans Wadongo Julian O’Shea Kemar SaffreyEvans Wadongo
2013Priti Rajagopalan Gilbert Addah Ariel Chuang Christaneisha Soleyn Priti Rajagopalan
2014
2015Gulalai Ismail Julius Shirima Brianna Frueann Nolana Lynch Julius Shirima
2016Achaleke Christian Leke Shougat Nazbin Khan Bal Kama Shamoy Hajare Achaleke Christian Leke
2017Krystle Reid Charles Lipenga Jacqueline Joseph Tricia Teekah Krystle Reid
2018Vanessa Paranjothy Sherifah Tumusiime Usman Iftikhar Jonathan Barcant Usman Iftikhar
2019Padmanaban Gopalan Oluwaseun Osowobi Bobby Siarani Johanan Dujon Oluwaseun Osowobi
2020Hafiz Usama Tanveer Galabuzi Brian Kakembo Sagufta Salma Sowmyan Jegatheesan Galabuzi Brian Kakembo

Partners

The Commonwealth Youth Programme works in partnership with a range of organisations including