Day 1 of the Commonwealth Youth Development Summit #cyds2026 was both energising and grounding. Bringing together young leaders from across the Commonwealth, the conversations serves as a powerful reminder that youth inclusion must go beyond rhetoric.
Two quick reflections that really stayed with me:
1. Resilience is non-negotiable. Yes bureaucracy will test us as young people but persistence is part of the work, we shouldn’t stop no matter the bureaucracy!📌
2. True youth inclusion means building pathways that are institutionalised, meaning we should all strive to create pathways that outlives us, systems that cannot be easily reversed or sidelined after we leave the scene!(Remember we will all leave, respectfully)📌📌
The conversations are just getting started at the ongoing #CYDS2026 but the urgency for meaningful, accountable youth partnership is already clear.
I am looking forward to what the next sessions bring, day 1 was a great success!👏🏾👏🏾
Hon. Patience Munyenyembe- Director General Youth Affairs – International Youth Parliament (IYP)
#cyds26
#getyouthinvolved
