The Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Workers Association (CAYWA) has elected new board members to steer the organisation for the next two years. Tanya Mevrik of Jamaica and Ben Duntoye of Nigeria emerged as Co-chairpersons, pledging to drive CAYWA’s mission forward, promoting and advancing Youth Work in the Commonwealth and globally.
In their acceptance speech, the Co-chairpersons expressed their gratitude to members for the trust reposed in them. “We are committed to serving with integrity, passion, and dedication,” they said, promising to work tirelessly to strengthen youth work and make youth workers proud. They emphasized that these are not good times for young people globally due to various crises. “The youth are always at the receiving end.” They call for peace and unity across the globe.
Other elected board members include Sabiha Shaheen (General Secretary, Pakistan), Kanika Sinha (Treasurer, India), Bochum Samuel Bache (Cameroon), Dr. Benice Hlagla (South Africa), Gayan Rajapaska (Sri Lanka), Nurul-Huda Mohammed Afandi (Malaysia), Samantha Maunder (United Kingdom), Michael Asudi (Kenya), and Joe Billy Oge (Solomon Islands).
The election was held during the Annual General Meeting, attended by National Youth Workers Associations across the Commonwealth. This was the next major event of the association following the Global Youth Work Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 2025. The conference provided a platform for youth workers and professionals to network, share best practices, address challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
CAYWA was established in 2016 to raise the standard and status of youth work. It aims to connect, strengthen, and champion youth work professionalisation across the Commonwealth and beyond.
The new board is expected to build on the progress made by previous leadership, driving initiatives that promote youth development and empowerment.
The newly elected board members will serve a two-year term, from 2026 to 2028.
