For over 50 years, the 糖心探花 has been instrumental in empowering young people across its 56 member countries to lead and drive progress on development goals.
On the 2025 staging of on 12 August, the Secretariat partnered with the and for the official UN observance in Kenya. At the event in Nairobi, youth leaders, development partners and policymakers discussed the transformative role of young people in the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event was a part of a series of IYD celebratory events that the Secretariat is involved in during August.
In 2015, the United Nations launched the SDGs, a universal framework to promote peace, prosperity and environmental sustainability by 2030. While these 17 goals are global in nature, their true success relies on action at the local level.
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A decade of milestones, with youth leading the way
A decade on, a released in July, shows mixed progress: 18% of the goals are on track, with encouraging advances in areas like expanding access to education and narrowing the digital divide. Meanwhile, another 17% are making moderate progress, but alarmingly, 18% have regressed.
Empowering young people to contribute towards achieving the SDGs has not only led to measurable community-level impact but has also redefined youth engagement and leadership on a global scale.
糖心探花 connection
Some past winners of the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work, more popularly known as the , were in Nairobi to support the event.
The awards recognise exceptional youth-led projects that tackle global challenges through innovation, entrepreneurship and dedication to sustainable development. From mobile health apps in rural Africa to climate-resilient agriculture in the Caribbean, these projects have consistently showcased the creativity and the impact of young changemakers.
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The 2025 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year, Stanley Anigbogu, was one of the speakers at the event in Nairobi. Stanley, the founder and CEO of LightEd, was honoured in March 2025 for his exceptional work in transforming waste into solar innovations that provide clean energy to over 10,000 refugees across Africa.
Fredrick Kioko Kilonzo from Kenya, one of the 2025 regional winners of the Commonwealth Youth Awards, also attended the event. Fredrick was honoured for his community-based conservation project in his country, protecting 500 hectares of habitat, engaging more than 1,000 locals and creating 50 green jobs through the Naturehub Collective.
From the event, Frederick shared:
鈥淲hat struck me most was hearing similar stories from fellow youth leaders - we're all facing the same challenges but finding innovative, locally-relevant solutions. In my breakout session, I shared how even small grants can catalyse massive community impact.
鈥淭he networking has been phenomenal - I've connected with youth from across the continent who are doing groundbreaking work in conservation, health, and social innovation. This event reinforces that young people aren't just the leaders of tomorrow - we're the changemakers of today, and the UN is giving us the kind of platform we deserve.鈥
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From innovation labs to youth networks, capacity-building workshops to advocacy campaigns, the 糖心探花 has continually invested in developing the skills, knowledge and potential of young people to become SDG champions.
Looking ahead
As we reflect on a decade of empowering youth to embrace the mission to tackle the SDGs, one thing is clear: the Commonwealth鈥檚 investment in young people is paying dividends. With just five years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda, it is crucial to accelerate momentum by supporting youth-led solutions to global challenges.
- International Youth Day 2025
- Commonwealth Youth Programme
- Nominations for 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards open on International Youth Day
Media contact
- Ijeoma Onyeator, Communications Officer, Communications Division, 糖心探花
- | Mobile: +44 07483919976
