Over 60% of the population of the Commonwealth is under 30. That’s 1.2 billion young people. By the Commonwealth centenary in 2049, they will be its leaders. Commonwealth100 brings them together to shape the legacy that their generation will have across the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth100 is a free, online leadership programme from Common Purpose that equips the next generation with 21st century leadership skills. It is the first of our Legacy Programmes to be run online. It introduces the idea of Open Source Leadership, co-created by young leaders, to maximize their impact in both their professional and civic lives.
Using an interactive platform, you will work with a diverse group of young leaders from across the Commonwealth to explore Open Source Leadership – a new leadership model co-created with over 1,000 young Commonwealth leaders.
This is your opportunity to gain practical skills for the future. What’s more, everyone who completes Commonwealth100 receives the Open Source Leadership Badge: an online badge you can use to set yourself apart, as a 21st Century leader.
About Commonwealth100
Commonwealth100 is open to young leaders who are from a Commonwealth country, or who currently live, work or study in a Commonwealth country, and are interested in shaping the legacy of the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth100 programme outcomes:
- A new generation of young leaders to come through who have the commitment and ability to bridge divides
- Stronger links across regions, backgrounds and generations (through our webinars and alumni offerings), which help them to work better together
- A broader base of leadership in Commonwealth cities and countries
- Framing a fresh, bold, principled, networked Commonwealth of the future
registered participants for 20 cohorts
average completion rate. Double the industry standard for online programme completion.
found the programme to be high value for time
How does it work?
Using an online platform, you will hear stories from senior and emerging leaders who have had to lead complex change.
You will take part in interactive exercises and discussions with peers from across the Commonwealth. And you will read compelling articles, which explore the skills you need to be successful in the 21st century.
All participants who complete the programme will receive the Open Source Leadership Badge, which can be used as a record of your achievement on your CV or online profiles.
Who can take part?
Commonwealth100 is open to young people, aged 18+, from across the Commonwealth. You may be at the beginning of your career or in Higher or Further Education.
Open Source Leadership
Many young people today recognize that we need a new approach to leadership. That’s why we worked with over 1,000 young leaders to discover the skills we need when Commonwealth celebrates its centenary in 2049.
The result is Open Source Leadership.
Open Source Leadership is a new, crowd-sourced model for leadership, which aims to equip you with the competencies you need to be successful in a world that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (what many call the VUCA world).
To learn more about our Online Legacy Programmes and the co-creation of leadership models, please refer to the document on the Legacy Programmes page.
"I am excited about Commonwealth100 because leadership is something that can be easily overlooked. Commonwealth100 offers something that everyone can learn from and implement into whatever they do. I think it's a key tool that is going to facilitate well rounded learning of so many young people."
Awake
We will be AWAKE to intolerance and determined to counterbalance it.
Interconnected
We will work to lift each other up.
Trustworthy
We will rebuild trust by being TRUSTWORTHY ourselves.
Quick
We will be QUICK to adapt to a world turned upside down by Artificial Intelligence.
Accessible
We will be ACCESSIBLE leaders.
engagement rate on the programme
conversations on the programme's discussion forums
out of 54 Commonwealth countries represented
"The Bank of Zambia is very excited to be partnering with Common Purpose as a Founding Partner on Commonwealth100 to support young leaders across the Commonwealth. CW100 promises to create a generation of open source leaders, and empower them to adapt to our rapidly changing world."
"‘Open Source’ should summarise an essential premise that we, as a generation, must embrace wholeheartedly; that we shall never stop challenging, innovating and expanding the ideas, people and technology that lead and define our generation. As a guiding concept, it has the power to create leaders, from all backgrounds, that have the tools and ability to overcome the challenges of the contemporary world…”
“Commonwealth100 is a brilliant initiative, offering new ways for young citizens from our 53 member states to inspire and work alongside one another online towards a common future. Building on the shared values of our Commonwealth Charter, Common Purpose is bringing together the talents of our young people from every continent and ocean to cooperate and co-create for a future that is fairer, more prosperous, more secure and more sustainable. Most importantly, through the Open Source Leadership concept Commonwealth100 offers young people in all our member countries inclusive and participatory opportunities to take positive action and make lasting impact for the common good.”
The Open Source Leadership Guiding Model was launched in Dhaka in October, by the Honourable Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP, Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament. The subsequent Open Source Leaders online programme was introduced during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet in London in April, with a workshop at the Commonwealth Youth Forum and a launch event at the High Commission of the Republic of Zambia.
