By Jasmine Brittan, UK Young Ambassador to the Commonwealth
Travelling to Samoa, for the 27th edition of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) represented a monumental event in our advocacy journeys as UK Young Ambassadors. Taking place in October 2024, we each travelled halfway around the world to reach the Pacific, with the event marking the first edition in this region. It was a week that not only deepened our understanding of youth policy but demonstrated the vast diversity of our Commonwealth friends, who are each developing unique solutions pertinent to their country.
Our first days in Samoa were filled with numerous events. This was particularly exciting for me as it was the first event after my election in March 2024, and it certainly started on a high! Just hours after I landed, I was invited by the former Chair of the Commonwealth Youth Council to be one of five youth delegates to travel on the Va’atele – a traditional Samoan double hulled canoe boat – as part of the official opening ceremony of the forum. The boat was rowed by local community members in a ceremonial procession to the stage, where we sat next to notable individuals such as the Prime Minister of Samoa, as well as being adorned with beautiful gifts of flower garlands and local fruit. This moment was simply unforgettable – something that will truly stay with me for the rest of my life.
And the remaining five days of our trip certainly encompassed even more excitement! The official Commonwealth Youth Forum began shortly after on the same day, involving the opportunity to meet the other 110 national youth delegates, converse on pertinent youth policy positions with senior ministers, and learn about local Samoan culture.
Jasmine Brittan,
UK Young Ambassador to the Commonwealth
One standout moment was the session on new educational reforms undertaken by the Samoan Ministry of Education & Culture to enrol primary school children in new education seminars about corals reefs, blending scientific knowledge and cultural traditions. Its success has been so profound that it is now being expanded to Fiji and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This programme is a powerful example of how Commonwealth nations can design context-specific solutions, proving that cultural diversity is one of the bloc’s greatest assets.
That evening, before heading back to our accommodation on the cruise ship, we further attended a photo exhibition on environmental preservation, with the British High Commission in Samoa, as well as obtaining an insight into their meticulous planning in the months leading up to the event, including the full-time deployment of UK civil servants to the country base. Seeing the sheer scale of these logistical operations gave me a newfound appreciation for all those working behind the scenes.
Furthermore, a particularly impactful event the following day was a roundtable hosted by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) titled “Finance and Investment for Resilient Growth: A Commonwealth Plan of Action”, where we had the opportunity to meet the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy.
Outside the conference walls, we embraced the chance to explore Samoa’s natural wonders. The final day included a visit to the stunning Sua Ocean Trench on the southern coast of Upolu island—a surreal and humbling experience I will never forget.
Overall, from meeting the Foreign Secretary David Lammy, to connecting with delegates from British Overseas Territories and curating connections with individuals from all around the world, I was simply left inspired. I am so excited by about the rest of my tenure, and creating stronger relationships with young people from across the territories we are elected to represent. It is imperative we understand the innate issues affecting all young people, no matter where they are located globally.
Fa’afetai Samoa, I hope to be back very soon!
