Putting Youth at the Centre of Sport, Development and Peace

As part of its commitment to putting young people at the centre of sustainable development, the Commonwealth has formed a Sport, Development and Peace (SDP) Youth Focal Point Working Group. With 60% of the Commonwealth population under 30, the Working Group plays a critical role in ensuring the voices and perspectives of youth are fed into the wider discussions on SDP. Beyond this, the group will champion the key role youth play in advancing the use of SDP across the Commonwealth, and that this is an opportunity for policymakers to interface with a representative group of young leaders in this space.  

The group is made up of leading youth practitioners in the field of Sport, Development and Peace who have demonstrated a commitment to putting young people at the centre of sustainable development. Ten practitioners from various backgrounds, representing organisations and institutions from across the Commonwealth were invited to form the initial working group. The first meeting of this newly appointed Sport Development and Peace Youth Focal Point Working Group was held on 1 May 2013.

In the next two months, the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS) and the 4th Commonwealth Sport Development Conference present two platforms for the Working Group to address. The Working Group is currently in the process of finalising their vision, goals, and terms of reference in preparation for these two events to ensure that youth led issues and ideas are at the centre of discussions whilst showcasing the innovative use of sport and youth, to aid sustainable development.

The group is comprised of the following members:

Clare Barrell - UK Sport, Europe Pete Beeley - Fight for Peace (Brazil & UK), Europe Emma Colucci - Right to Play, Caribbean & Americas Kavelle Deonanan - Caribbean Sport and Development Agency, Caribbean & Americas Assmaah Helal - Football United, Oceania Nadee Jayawickrama - Ministry of Sport Sri Lanka, Asia Jean de Dieu Karera - Esperance, Africa Samuel Musembi - MYSA, Africa Will Stone - Laureus Sport for Good Foundation (UK), Europe Jennifer Wong - International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education