Henry Charles Foundation to feature at November 17-19 Commonwealth Youth Workers Conference in Malaysia
The Henry W. Charles Foundation (HCF) makes its second international debut next week in Malaysia, where it’ll be represented at the 5th Global Youth Work Conference.
The three-day conference, to be hosted November 17-19 in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, will also be attended by international delegations, under the theme: ‘Youth Work in a Changing World: Sustaining Local Wisdom for Global Connectivity’.
The HCF will be represented by its Chairperson, Dr Madgerie Jameson-Charles of Saint Lucia, who will speak on Monday.
The conference will include a round-table panel discussion focusing on ‘advancing social health and wellbeing through youth-centred approaches that build resilience, strengthen community connections, and safeguard young people in evolving social environments.’
Spanning diverse contexts, it will also highlight ‘the power of structured sport, local leadership, restorative practice, digital safety initiatives and culturally-responsive support systems in addressing challenges such as trauma, exclusion, mental health pressures, online harm, and child protection.’
Together, the presenters will ‘demonstrate how youth work rooted in community, care and intentional development frameworks can promote belonging, safety and holistic well-being, while equipping young people to grow, lead and thrive in a changing world.’
Dr Jameson-Charles — Dr. Charles’ widow and Principal of Saint Lucia’s Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC), will present a paper on: ‘Youth Work in a Changing World: Sustaining Local Wisdom for Global Connectivity’.
Youth work is rapidly evolving to meet today’s pressing global challenges, demanding innovative approaches that harness local wisdom alongside modern strategies.
The Henry Charles Commonwealth Cup (HCCC) – a separate but related entity – is also working to show how sport, particularly football, can be a transformative vehicle for youth empowerment.
The HCCC promotes social inclusion, cultivates leadership skills and fosters international collaboration among young people.
This year, an outstanding Pan-Commonwealth winner will be honoured at the Kuala Lumpur conference with the prestigious ‘Commonwealth Dr. Henry Charles Award’ that underscores excellence in and on the field.
The award ceremony will also provide a unique opportunity to celebrate pioneering efforts and foster global connections.
The HCF Chair, who also heads the HCCC, says her presentation “will seek to demonstrate that embedding structured youth work within the framework can significantly enhance education, bolster economic resilience, and strengthen cultural connectivity across Commonwealth nations.”
“Embracing this model is not just beneficial,” she says, but also “essential for the future of our youth and our communities.”
The conference is co-sponsored by The Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Workers Federations and University Putra Malaysia.
Participation follows the online launch of the HCF on October 26 and the simultaneous launch last year of the HCCC in Saint Lucia and the UK.
Both entities were established by Dr Jameson-Charles and several volunteers in Saint Lucia, the Caribbean and the UK, to honour the late Henry W. Charles, who served for many years as the Youth Director at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.