A big thank you to Year 4 for teaching everyone in assembly on Friday about why we celebrate Commonwealth Day.
The Commonwealth is a family of 53 nations and are home to two billion plus citizens of all faiths and ethnicity – over half of whom are 25 or under. Member countries span all continents and oceans from Africa to Asia, the Americas, Australasia, the Caribbean, Europe and bases in Antarctica.
Most of the countries in the Commonwealth were once ruled by Britain, but today many other countries with different cultures, languages and faiths now want to be part of the Commonwealth. As an Overseas UK Territory, the Turks and Caicos is part of the Commonwealth and we have a public holiday every year.
Click on to find out more about the Commonwealth and Commonwealth Day and visit www.youngcommonwealth.org/ together with your child.
Every country in the Commonwealth has signed up to a shared set of values. All countries are all treated the same. These values include holding fair and free elections and respecting human rights. Every two years the leaders of all Commonwealth nations meet to decide on ways to work together, sharing ideas and experiences, skills and knowledge. These meetings are called Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings or Summits. Decisions made at these meetings are made by consensus which means that every country, however large or small, can have a say and the right to disagree. At the meetings, people try to solve environmental and development problems and improve people’s lives. The next Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting will be in The United Kingdom in 2018.
People getting together to enjoy sports is very important to the Commonwealth. Sports are a good way of showing friendship and togetherness. Every four years the Commonwealth Games are held. They are also called the ‘friendly games’ because the competition is between individual sportsmen and women, not between countries. The next Games will be held in 2018 in Australia. There are also Youth Games and the next Games will be held in our neighbouring country of the Bahamas next year. Perhaps some of our budding high-school athletes, who have recently taken part in the National Athletics Competition, will be a part of these Youth Games.
Commonwealth Day is celebrated on the second Monday in March every year.
The aim of commemorating Commonwealth Day is to promote understanding on global issues, international co-operation and the work of the Commonwealth to improve the lives of its 2 billion plus citizens.
The theme for 2016 is ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth’. Inclusive means – open to everyone.
What does this theme mean to you?
Information from www.youngcommonwealth.org/