RCS Wales

Celebrations at Cardiff Mansion House to mark Commonwealth Day 2020
2020-03-09 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Cardiff Mansion House, Richmond Rd, Cardiff, CF24 3UN
On 9th March 2020, a Commonwealth Day Flag Raising Ceremony was held at Cardiff Mansion House. It was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Dan De’Ath.
The Commonwealth Flag consists of a golden symbol centring on a globe. Each year on Commonwealth Day, the Royal Commonwealth Society of Wales celebrates the recognition and connection that is shared among all Commonwealth countries globally, coming together in this ceremony to hoist the flag.
“Such an event gives us the opportunity that we join together, and associate ourselves with more public expressions and appreciations of the Commonwealth,” said Councillor Dan De’Ath, addressing the importance of the ceremony during his welcome speech.
The acknowledgement and appreciation of an increasingly connected world were shared among guests. This was echoed in the deliverance of Her Majesty the Queen’s Commonwealth Day message by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, Morfudd Meredith:
“On Commonwealth occasions, it is always inspiring to be reminded of the diversity of the people and countries that make up our worldwide family.”
The participants and guests of the ceremony ranged from students of Kings Monkton School to Armed Forces Colonels, displaying a diverse and friendly environment that embodies the spirit of the Commonwealth. Boyd Clack, the patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society of Wales was present and gave a heartfelt speech before the hoist of the flag. A team of five international students from the School of Journalism, Media and Culture at Cardiff University were also invited to celebrate the event.
Reverend Canon Stewart Lisk delivered a prayer for peace in our communities and the world, addressing the difficult situation posed by COVID-19, “We also pray particularly today, for those who are anxious as a result of the COVID-19 virus in many places of our world.” He called for people to show unity and kindness for one another in a challenging time.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2019
2019-06-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Wales
The theme for 2019 is A Connected Commonwealth. The event was the first launch outside of the UK in many years, in the presence of Dr Greg Munro, RCS Chief Executive; Dr. Mary Ashun, Principal of Ghana International School; Mr Tom Hartley, Deputy High Commissioner to Ghana; HRH The Duchess of Cornwall; Rebecca Akufo-Addo, First Lady of Ghana; Mr. Eric Kutortse, Chairman of First Sky Group and Serene Insurance; Edward Enninful Editor-In-Chief of British Vogue magazine and John Apea, RCS Regional Co-ordinator for Africa (pictured L-R above).
Building on the 2018 theme of Towards a Common Future, this year’s topics call upon young people to consider how they can work to use cultural, technological and environmental connections for positive change across the Commonwealth. It asks young people to consider the potential of the Commonwealth in strengthening the vast and varied links between citizens.
The Competition is an opportunity for all young Commonwealth citizens and residents, regardless of region, education or background, to share ideas, celebrate their story and have their voice heard – all whilst developing key skills. For 2019, we want to hear from more young people across the Commonwealth, all stories and voices are important.
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 information about the competition, please see Terms and Conditions and Frequently Asked Questions.
TOPICS
SENIOR CATEGORY
Born between 2 June 2000 and 1 June 2005 (14-18 years of age)
‘You are the most optimistic, connected generation the world has ever known.’ HRH The Duke of Sussex. How can you use Commonwealth connections for positive change?
Connected by the oceans; can we work together to protect the environment?
‘We are all now connected by the Internet’ – Stephen Hawking. What does the future hold for humankind?
Family, Community, Nation, Commonwealth. What are the opportunities for shared, sustainable growth?
JUNIOR CATEGORY
Born on or after 2 June 2005 (under 14 years of age)
My cultural connections.
An overseas visitor is coming to your town for the first time. How would you connect with them?
A place I feel connected to.
The Commonwealth connects people across borders – what can we learn from our neighbours?
Judges described entries to the competition in 2018 as ‘‘fantastically imaginative’, ‘hopeful’, ‘quite exceptional’ and ‘passionate’. We expect a similarly high calibre of writing for 2019.
Keep up to date with the Competition on Twitter and Facebook. You can stay in touch with the RCS by signing up to our newsletter
HISTORY OF THE ESSAY COMPETITION
The RCS has a rich history of nurturing the creative talents of young people around the Commonwealth. We endeavour to promote literacy, expression and creativity by celebrating excellence and imagination. Run by the RCS since 1883, this international schools’ writing contest is a highly regarded and popular international education project.
In 2015, the contest was renamed ‘The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition’, in honour of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s role as both Head of the Commonwealth and Patron of The Royal Commonwealth Society.
The Society is grateful for the support of Claned, sponsor of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. Claned is a cloud-based learning platform that maximizes learning outcomes by combining artificial intelligence, collaborative learning and world-class pedagogy based in Helsinki, Finland.

One Flag, One People: Commonwealth Day 2019 in Cardiff
2019-03-11 08:00 - 17:00 | Cardiff Mansion House, Richmond Rd, Cardiff, CF24 3UN
Every year in March, the Royal Commonwealth Society of Wales hosts a flag raising event to celebrate Commonwealth Day. The Commonwealth flag comprises of the Commonwealth symbol in gold, displayed on a blue field. The symbol focuses on a globe, which stands for the global nature of the Commonwealth and the spread of its membership.
While the flag raising by itself is a simple act, its symbolic relevance cannot be underestimated, as it signifies the unity of 53 members states and their people.
On 11th March 2019, the Royal Commonwealth Society of Wales invited our team of six international students from Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Culture to the flag raising event at the prestigious Mansion House in Cardiff.
One of the first noticeable things is perhaps the presence of ethnic diversity in the room. As we were introduced to all the guests from different walks of life, I noticed one thing we all had in common, a welcoming smile that instantly gives the recipient a sense of belonging. All age groups alike, from Scouts and Girl Guides to Armed Forces Colonels were conversing, genuinely interested in the life of the other person. The interactions held around the room by different groups, some complete strangers, exuded a sense of oneness and unity.
The relevance of the Commonwealth flag, which was also raised in Commonwealth countries across the globe, became even more apparent, as people stood with a respectful demeanour to honour the flag and the values it stands for. It’s just a flag being put up, others might say, but that simple act deeply reiterates the 2019 theme: “A Connected Commonwealth”. It also tells the story of the bridges built for international trade, cross cultural exchange, diplomacy and importantly development. Commonwealth Day emphasises a legacy for future generations to coexist in peace without fear, because under that one flag we are one people.
See more of our day in Cardiff in our Gallery and on our Instagram @rcswales.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018
2018-09-13 08:00 - 17:00 | Wales
Every two years, leaders of the Commonwealth meet to discuss current issues affecting the Commonwealth and its many diverse citizens. The meeting, known as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), was last held in April 2018, in London and included People’s, Women’s, Youth and Business Fora. It is this biennial event that is emulated through Model Commonwealth Summits or Model CHOGMs.
Model Commonwealth Summits operate much like a model UN scenario, with individuals acting as the heads of government of Commonwealth countries and engaging in discussions as their country would. Critically, country representatives in a Model Commonwealth Summit must reach a consensus on the issues discussed, adding a challenging element that is of great contemporary importance. This is a fun, active way of demonstrating how the Commonwealth works and allows students to actively participate in the learning process. It teaches presentation, research and critical thinking skills, as well as global awareness and cultural understanding. Some students are chosen for roles outside of country representation (including media, communique, and others), offering a diverse range of skill-building and appealing to a wide range of students.
The RCS has a historical track record in organising Model Commonwealth Summits, which was re-established in October 2015 with the Tower Hamlets Borough and Youth Councils and the Daneford Trust. The event was informed by the comprehensive chapter ‘Running a Commonwealth Youth Summit’ in the RCS Education Resource Pack Antigua to Zambia: Getting to Know Your Commonwealth which provides step-by-step guidance on the entire process of organising a model CHOGM.
Contact the Youth and Education team for more information about how to organise a Model Commonwealth Summit in your area.
MODEL COMMONWEALTH SUMMITS 2018
On 13 September 2018, 60 secondary-school students had the opportunity to act as Heads of Government for a day and take part in a series of debates at Media City UK, Manchester. The Royal Commonwealth Society, in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat, Youth Charter and Elevation Networks, facilitated a model Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) where students discussed development challenges facing young people today including education, employment and preventing violent extremism.
The day provided an excellent opportunity for young people to engage with the Commonwealth – not only to learn about each of the 53 member states, but to experience how these countries engage with each other and work to achieve consensus. It was also an opportunity for young citizens of the Commonwealth to understand their role within this community and understand how they can play a part in shaping its future.
In addition to the key thematic debates, students discussed social cohesion, mental health, respect and understanding, climate change and many other critical topics affecting Commonwealth citizens. They came together to identify problems, solutions and important aspirations that reflected the needs and realities of all member states and ended with a resolution about how they would carry the Commonwealth forward.

Commonwealth Summit: Youth Forum Agenda
2018-04-22 08:00 - 17:00 | Wales
In April 2018, the United Kingdom hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, along with the associated youth, civil society and business forums that support the CHOGM. The summit’s theme was ‘Towards a Common Future’ which aimed to address the shared global challenges we face and agree how to work together to create a better future for the Commonwealth’s 2.4 billion citizens, particularly its youth who account for 60% of the population.
The Royal Commonwealth Society supported CHOGM 2018 and the Commonwealth Youth Forum’s (CYF) International Youth Task Force in a special social media campaign. This aimed to encourage as many Commonwealth young people as possible to participate in the summit by sharing their priorities for Commonwealth action and their vision for the future.
