Attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Headquarters Secretariat’s Observance of Commonwealth Day celebrations in London was a ‘wonderful experience’ said Annie Lennon.

Writer and international relations student Ms Lennon and University of Manchester undergraduate Alex Eaton were selected by the Executive Committee of the Isle of Man branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) to join around 1000 other young people from around the Commonwealth to attend the celebrations on March 12, which saw Her Majesty the Queen, as Head of the Commonwealth, together with all Commonwealth High Commissioners in London, attend a service in Westminster Abbey to mark this year’s Commonwealth Day. 

The celebrations concluded with a reception, also in the presence of Her Majesty, at Marlborough House, headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat, and hosted by the Commonwealth Secretary-General the Rt Hon. the Baroness Scotland QC. 

The theme for the celebrations was ‘Towards a Common Future’, complementing 

the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in London and Windsor between April 16 and 20, at which leaders from all 53 member nations are expected to attend.

Ms Lennon said: ‘After an enlightening tour around the Houses of Parliament, we had the pleasure of joining other members of the Commonwealth for a discussion on how to best achieve the UN's sustainable development goals, in the presence of Hon Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, chairperson of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. It was a wonderful experience to meet her and, of course, to discuss these pressing issues with other representatives of the Commonwealth. I'd highly recommend all of the Island's youth to see how they can get further involved in Commonwealth-related activity. Having access to this global association is just one of the many benefits of being a young person from the Isle of Man.’

Mr Eaton added: ‘It was a pleasure to attend the Observance of Commonwealth Day. I had a wonderful time and am extremely grateful for the experience.

‘I really enjoyed having the opportunity to engage with other young people from around the Commonwealth. We collaborated on drafting legislative proposals to address several of the challenges faced by young people today, on topics as diverse as youth entrepreneurship to gender equality, with highly knowledgeable input from both a shadow Minister and a former government peer.’

Chairman of the Isle of Man Branch of the CPA, the Hon Juan Watterson SHK, said: ‘One in three young people aged between 15 and 29 live in Commonwealth countries. The Commonwealth recognises the important role young people have to make in shaping its future, so is adapting to change and challenge and building on its strengths and assets to create brighter prospects for everyone in the Commonwealth “family”. 

‘I am pleased that Annie and Alex found their experience of Observance of Commonwealth Day inspiring and that they had the opportunity to discover more about the common values and aspirations that define and unite the Commonwealth.’

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