2010 RCS Youth Programmes Launched

Young Commonwealth Competitions

For the first time since it began in 1883, our school's Essay Competition will be joined by our Vision Awards filmmaking contest and a new Photographic Award.

Designed to engage young people in current affairs and nurture new creative talent, in 2010 all three competitions will focus on the theme, 'Science, Technology and Society'. To find out more, visit: www.thercs.org/youth/competitions.

Nkabom Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme

In September 2010, Nkabom will take place in the Commonwealth's newest member, Rwanda. Up to 35 young people aged 18-25 will learn peacebuiling, conflict resolution and leadership skills.

This well-regarded programme is already attracting the interest of high-profile partners. To find out more, visit: www.thercs.org/youth/nkabom.

Commonwealth Conversation Events

Many branches have been busy organising events for the Commonwealth Conversation. Events have taken place in New Zealand, India, Nigeria, Uganda, Australia, the UK, Cameroon and Canada...to name but a few.

You can see reports, photos and videos on the Events page of the Conversation website. We are extremely grateful for the enthusiasm shown by branches for the Conversation. Your support and participation has been invaluable.

We are also delighted to hear that the Conversation is shaping the future projects of several branches. The Commonwealth Youth Organisation of Nigeria is planning its own Nigeria Conversation, a national public consultation to discuss the future of the country after 50 years of independence. Meanwhile, RCS Cameroon plan to run a series of public debates to raise the profile of the Commonwealth.

The Conversation will conclue with a set of recommendations and a full report in early March. Watch this space…

BBC World Debate: The Commonwealth at 60

On 26th November 2009, as part of our CHOGM activities, the RCS facilitated a BBC World Debate in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Taking the theme, 'The Commonwealth at 60 - Does it Have a Future?, the World Debate touched upon many of the issues highlighted by participants in the Commonwealth Conversation.

Moderated by BBC presenter Zeinab Badawi, the panel comprised David Miliband, UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General; Stephen Chan, Professor of International Relations at the School of Oriental and Asian Studies; and Dipu Moni, Bangladeshi Foreign Minister.

This one hour programme was broadcast 7 times over the weekend of 28-29 November and carried on BBC World Service Radio to a combined estimated audience of 100 million people.

Watch the debate here and post your comments online.

The RCS gets Linkedin!

Like any good membership organisation, we know how important it is to communicate with you. And we hope a new online group for the RCS will help us to do just that.

At www.linkedin.com users can register their profiles and network with business professionals from all over the world. Our group (search for 'Royal Commonwealth Society' under Groups) is a new place to learn about our plans and calendar of events for 2010.

We'll be using the Group to ask you about your membership experience, so it's an easy way to give us feedback. Invite your colleagues to join and we can also make it a way of attracting new members...

Don't forget, we're also on Facebook www.facebook.com/thercs and Twitter www.twitter.com/dannyrcs.

If you avoid social media sites out of principle, you can of course still connect with other Members on MemberNet via our website.