Royal Commonwealth Society - Strengthening Communities

The Commonwealth - Fast Facts

The Commonwealth is made up of 54 independent countries that work together to pursue common goals which promote development, democracy, and peace. Our combined population of 2.4 billion is almost a third of the global population.

The combined GDP is projected to surpass US$13 trillion in 2020.
Half of the top 20 global emerging cities are in the Commonwealth.
Seven of the top 10 countries in the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which measures rule of law, human rights, participation, human development and sustainable economic opportunity, are Commonwealth members.
Seven of the top 10 countries for gender equality in Sub-Saharan Africa are Commonwealth countries, according to World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2015.
Five of the best performing 15 countries in the Youth Development Index are Commonwealth members.
Since 1991, 12 Commonwealth member countries have moved to multi-party democracy from military or one-party rule.

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Events Calendar (RCSO and Other)

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COMMONWEALTH - Insights, Inspiration, & Innovation

Stairways to heaven: England's top 10 cathedrals

@durhamcathedral

Dec 1, 2019

Stairways to heaven: England's top 10 cathedrals

Attendance at services in England's cathedrals has risen 14% over the last ten years, according to new figures from @churchofengland. The Guardian gives a run down of their top ten cathedrals - we're number four! https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/shortcuts/2019/nov/26/stairways-to-heaven-britains-top-ten-cathedrals Full Story #education

Learning and inspiring through nature and adventure

#sport as a vehicle for peace and development

@commonwealthsec

Dec 21, 2018

#sport as a vehicle for peace and development

The #Commonwealth Secretariat advocates for #sport to be used as a vehicle for peace and development. Our #CommonwealthSDP work assists member countries to develop policies and frameworks that link sport to outcomes in areas such as #education, #humanrights and #genderequality Full Story #humanright #education #youth

RCS - Win a trip to London, England - June 2019

Dec 1, 2018

RCS - Win a trip to London, England - June 2019

The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition for 2019, was launched by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. The theme for 2019 is "A Connected Commonwealth". The competition is open to all citizens and residents of the Commonwealth aged 18 and under and runs until 1 June 2019. All entrants receive a Certificate of Participation and one Winner and Runner-up from the Senior and Junior categories will win a trip to London for a week of educational and cultural events. For more informatio

Mar 28, 2018

COMMONWEALTH PRINCIPLES

The declaration of Commonwealth Principles commits members to:  pursue world peace through the UN  combat racial discrimination  promote the freedom of the individual, regardless of race, colour, creed or belief  work against poverty and injustice  promote tolerance and equality  encourage wider international trade on fair terms, sustained investment and growth in developing countries  promote democracy and good governance Courtesy of the Commonwealth Kit & Teac

ANCIENT TOMB OF SANTA CLAUS DISCOVERED BENEATH TURKISH CHURCH

Oct 4, 2017

ANCIENT TOMB OF SANTA CLAUS DISCOVERED BENEATH TURKISH CHURCH

Archaeologists in Turkey may be on the cusp of solving a mystery thousands of years in the making after they stumbled on a tomb beneath the ruins of an ancient church they believe contains the remains of Saint Nicholas—known popularly as Santa Claus. A portion of the site believed to contain the undamaged grave was discovered in St. Nicholas Church, located in Turkey’s southern Antalya province. The Demre district in which the church is found is known to be the revered Christ

This tech tool is transforming Zambian classrooms in a powerful way

May 26, 2017

This tech tool is transforming Zambian classrooms in a powerful way

Nancy Chandala, 13, is sitting in a classroom at Joel Community School in rural Zambia, fixated on a small computer screen. “I wish all my textbooks were loaded on the tablet,” she says. “I would read even when out in the maize fields at home. No carrying of heavy books.” Nancy is one of more than 2,000 children from rural areas who are benefiting from eSchool 360, an innovative new project that aims to provide Zambian children with high quality education while keeping costs

Private education is growing faster than public education in Africa

May 14, 2017

Private education is growing faster than public education in Africa

With the expectation that one in four young African students—or 66 million—will be enrolled in a private school by 2021, the potential for investment and impact in the sector has “rarely been greater,” a new report declares. The report, from the investment and advisory firm Caerus Capital, notes that the huge demographic shift in the continent, rapid urbanization, the increased use of technology, and the emergence of a middle class has amplified the role of private education

Mobile innovation will help 2 billion more people get access to healthcare and education

May 5, 2017

Mobile innovation will help 2 billion more people get access to healthcare and education

From music to movies, from banking to buying food, mobile phones have revolutionized the way we access the world today. But for low-income consumers in emerging markets, the full potential of mobile financial services is yet to be unlocked, a new report suggests. Despite the growth in smartphone adoption and mobile payment systems in many countries, telecom operators and regulators were yet to invest in products and distribution models that would cater for largely underserved

The key to innovating education in Africa will be to fix its financing

May 5, 2017

The key to innovating education in Africa will be to fix its financing

Africa is at risk of losing a generation of 21st century workers and job creators. If current trends continue, Africa will be home to one billion young people by 2050 but one-third of them will not be able to complete basic secondary education. For children who are in school, things won’t be much better. While technology has dramatically transformed the modern workplace, many children are still learning the same way they did 100 years ago. This has led to a huge disconnect be

Decades after extinction declaration, hunt for Tasmanian tiger resumes

Apr 2, 2017

Decades after extinction declaration, hunt for Tasmanian tiger resumes

MARCH 31, 2017 —The Tasmanian tiger is a creature of legend. The only confirmed sightings since the last one held in captivity died in Australia's Hobart Zoo in 1936 are stuffed ones, aging photographs, or depictions on beer bottles. But ever since, reported sightings, ranging from the plausible to ones that sound like a video of a flying Frisbee being declared a UFO, have piqued the interest of scientists. Many who are certain they’ve spotted the small, dog-like form of the

Apply Now for National Student Commonwealth Forum, Ottawa April 30- May 5, 2017

Jan 28, 2017

Apply Now for National Student Commonwealth Forum, Ottawa April 30- May 5, 2017

Have you ever thought that youth can be more engaged and empowered? Now in its 45th year, the National Student Commonwealth Forum (NSCF) offers a week-long leadership and education program where Canadian youth consider and voice opinions on current issues facing Canada, the Commonwealth and the world. The NSCF is a unique collaboration between the Royal Commonwealth Society Ottawa Branch, and Canadian Heritage, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Global Affairs Canada

AI replacing some white-collar workers

Jan 6, 2017

AI replacing some white-collar workers

Most of the attention around automation focuses on how factory robots and self-driving cars may fundamentally change our workforce, potentially eliminating millions of jobs. But Artificial Intelligence that can handle knowledge-based, white-collar work are also becoming increasingly competent. FULL STORY #education #tech

2017 Commonwealth War Graves Commission Centenary Interns

Commonwealth Class: winning short stories by teachers announced

Dec 14, 2016

Commonwealth Class: winning short stories by teachers announced

A teacher from India was announced today as the first prize winner of the Commonwealth Class teachers’ short story competition. Second and third prizes were awarded to Ngozi Razak-Soyebi from Nigeria and Caroline Picking from the United Kingdom. The competition is organised by the British Council and Commonwealth Secretariat through the Commonwealth Class initiative. Entrants were asked to write about the theme of ‘Belonging’. Full Story #education

2016 "Find your Voice" Shakespeare on the Platform - Winner

Dec 4, 2016

2016 "Find your Voice" Shakespeare on the Platform - Winner

IT'S NOT JUST WHAT YOU SAY, BUT HOW YOU SAY IT - Shakespeare on the Platform contestants from high schools across Ottawa competed for $1,200 in prize money by presenting one of Shakespeare's soliloquies and a sonnet. With an endowment and participation from the former English Speaking Union (ESU) Ottawa Branch, the RCS Ottawa branch held the 22nd Shakespeare on the Platform competition on November 30, 2016. The caliber of the performances was excellent and this year's winners

Winners’ Week Day Three: The Big Day!

Oct 27, 2016

Winners’ Week Day Three: The Big Day!

Winners’ Week for The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2016 continues, with three action-packed days already completed and just one more to go. Day three brought with it, perhaps the highlight of the whole week; a special Award Ceremony at Buckingham Palace. This was not the only special event today, which will be the group’s last in London. Gauri, Wan Gee and Esther began the day by wishing Inessa Rajah, Senior Winner, the best of luck in her examinations, which she wa

Oct 22, 2016

Youth Development Index - Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to one of the largest, fastest growing youth populations in the world. But this “youth bulge” could hurt African countries more than it helps them if job opportunities aren’t increased or health and education services aren’t improved, according to the Youth Development Index (YDI) released by the Commonwealth Secretariat today (Oct 21). Ten of the worst countries in the world for young people, those between the ages of 15 and 29, are in sub-Saharan

Empowering Young Minds - $15m Global Learning XPRIZE competition.

Aug 21, 2016

Empowering Young Minds - $15m Global Learning XPRIZE competition.

The Global Learning XPRIZE challenges teams from around the world to develop open source and scalable software that will enable children in developing countries to teach themselves basic reading, writing and arithmetic within 18 months. Once the 18-month field-testing phase concludes, the prize purse will be objectively awarded to the team that generates the best international standardized test scores within the group of participating children. Our goal is an empowered genera