Caribbean Regional Youth Council Commonwealth Day message

On March 10th, 2014, the Caribbean Regional Youth Council joins The Commonwealth in
celebrating Commonwealth day under the theme Team Commonwealth. The theme was chosen
to serve as a reflection of the spirit of friendship and the drive towards achieving shared goals
and values that exist between the Commonwealth’s member countries through its well defined
charter.

The core values surround: Democracy, Human rights, International peace and security,
Tolerance, respect and understanding, Freedom of Expression, Separation of Powers, Rule of
Law, Good Governance, Sustainable Development, Protecting the Environment, Access to Health,
Education, Food and Shelter, Gender Equality, Importance of Young People in the
Commonwealth, Recognition of the Needs of Small States, Recognition of the Needs of
Vulnerable States and The Role of Civil Society.

The five regions from 53 countries forming the Commonwealth are known to include some of the
world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries. Without isolation however, it is safe to
say that, the world we live in today, came about as a direct result of relationships built among
people across different countries and time zones. Some of the world’s greatest industrial,
technological and political revolutions, have come as a result of partnerships between
Individuals, communities, global businesses, institutions and countries that share their best
practices and commit to shared goals and objectives- Our generation, fortunate to being both
the heirs and custodians of them all.

It is therefore now an absolute necessity for us as young people of the Caribbean to inform or
constantly remind ourselves of those shared goals and values, and then personally assess the
relevance and soundness of such values to our lives and our people. Then upon doing so, we
must consciously choose to buy-in and uphold the same if we personally concur. For it is only
when we personally adopt such values and corporately unite in upholding them, that we can truly
celebrate Commonwealth Youth Day 2014 and beyond.

The world is at a developmental crossroad where the emerging global and technological changes
continue to impact our economic, social and political cultures in diversely profound ways. These
impacts, some negative, some progressive, command a greater need for the Commonwealth of
Nations to make a concerted effort to embrace global co-operation, especially towards finding
common and sustainable solutions to preserve our corporate values.

As young people, we have always been at the center of global developments, but mostly from a
consumer location and as recipients. Gradually, over the past decade there has been a deliberate
shift toward young people becoming agents of change and contributors to decision making
processes. The work of the Commonwealth Secretariat has led to the development of a global
network of youth leaders who have shown their alacrity in working together to make a
difference-Youth who are committed to advance positive levels of advocacy and brokerage on
the national, regional and global stages. These youth leaders are now being poised as catalysts
for necessary change throughout the world. Most recently, we youth of the commonwealth were
brought together to steward the establishment of a commonwealth Youth Council, as well as a
current movement of regions establishing themselves into networks of National Youth Councils
and youth-led organizations- all toward teambuilding and corporate advance.

The time has come, to realize the true state of our world and how life has truly changed over the
past 12-30 years for us and now, take up the required posture for conscious unity for sustainable
development.

So as the Commonwealth of Nations celebrates under the theme “Team Commonwealth”, we all
join in celebrating the global friendships which have led to us improving our understanding of
each other’s issues, and we are thankful of those opportunities which have presented themselves
to see us working towards the creation of viable and sustainable solutions.

The Caribbean Regional Youth Council encourages all member states, youth, youth leaders, social
workers, funding institutions and development organization’s within each Caribbean and
Commonwealth Nation, to make concerted and visible efforts throughout 2014 in demonstrating
an enhanced spirit of true friendship and co-operation for realizing the world we all
want.