The 9th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting brings together over 200 delegates – senior government representatives from more than 30 countries, as well as young leaders, youth workers and partner organisations. The high-level conference was opened by the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, at a ceremony at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort in Kampala. Saying it was his “honour” to open the meeting he noted “the Commonwealth is a unique international organisation”.

Our Commonwealth focus is on translating these aspirations into impact, for the social, political and economic benefit of young people in all our communities. To achieve this, we have to invest in young people and in the environments that enable and support them.

Co-organized by the Commonwealth Youth Council, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Malaysian Government, this summit marked a historic occasion. The Commonwealth Youth Summit, themed ‘An Intergenerational Convergence’, was hosted by the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC), the officially recognized representative of over 1.2 billion young people across the Commonwealth. Key topics of focus included Climate Policy and Finance, Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Peacebuilding, Global Inequality, and Social Cohesion, fostering impactful discussions with the aim of addressing these critical issues for youth today.

The three-day summit was inaugurated by HRH Prince Charles of Wales on November 3rd during his visit to the University of Nottingham in Semenyih, Selangor, where the Commonwealth Youth Innovation Hub was also officially launched by His Royal Highness during the summit.

The Commonwealth Youth Innovation Hub, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Youth Council and the Commonwealth Secretariat, successfully organized the Future Youth Summit (FUYOH) to engage young people in meaningful dialogue. The summit explored four thematic pillars: A Future of Digitalism, A Future of Sustainability, A Future of Inclusivity, and A Future of Creativity, fostering discussions that resonate with the aspirations of the youth.

Bringing together over 300 young leaders and CEOs, FUYOH featured impactful panel discussions and workshops. Esteemed keynote speaker included Dr. Vandana Shiva, a world-renowned social activist. Additionally, the summit facilitated networking exchanges between governments, including discussions between the Government of Russia and the Government of Malaysia, led by Malaysia’s Youth Minister Mr. Syed Saddiq and Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. Patricia Scotland.

Co-organized by the Commonwealth Student Association, Lim Kok Wing and Commonwealth Youth Innovation Hub, the summit unites student leaders, policymakers, and education stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions on student governance, rights, and youth leadership in higher education, fostering collaboration to enhance student representation in shaping impactful educational policies. Critical initiatives were identified to strengthen student leadership, address challenges in education and the labour market, and advance social justice and inclusion.

The summit led to significant outcomes, including the establishment of the Commonwealth Students’ Association (CSA) Secretariat in Malaysia, with its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. This milestone set the foundation for CSA’s action plans and key initiatives.