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The story of 54 countries

Hello, did you know that about 30% of the world’s people live in the Commonwealth? That’s nearly 2.5 The people of the Commonwealth billion adults and children! are a diverse group. Some live on very small islands like in the Pacific, and some live in big countries like in Asia. Introducing the

The Commonwealth Commonwealth is a vibrant family of 54 countries spread Commonwealth across every continent people work together and ocean. All countries in the by sharing ideas and Commonwealth are experiences, skills and knowledge. independent and It is about friendship equal nations. and respect between individuals and nations.

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Commonwealth values

The Commonwealth believes people have The Commonwealth rights, such as the stands against right to education intolerance, prejudice and healthcare. and racism.

The Commonwealth regards girls and boys as equally important and aims to improve the lives of young men and women.

The Commonwealth promotes and believes everyone should be free to choose their leaders.

2 The Commonwealth story In the beginning… The Commonwealth was born out of the British , which at one time included The early years countries in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, the and the Americas.

In 1931 it was called the British , but in 1949 leaders decided to transform it into an organisation of ‘free and equal members’, and the modern Commonwealth was created.

The Commonwealth became a member in Secretariat encourages 1957. It was the first of many members to get together African countries to join the to talk about their Commonwealth as independent concerns and ideas. nations in the 1950s and 1960s.

In 1961 left the Commonwealth because of its policy of segregating white and black In 1965 the Commonwealth people. Commonwealth leaders Secretariat was created. It is supported the struggle against white based in Marlborough House in minority rule. to promote shared values across member countries. 3 The 90s and beyond Many other countries, big and small, from all parts of the globe and with different In 1994 South Africa cultures, languages and faiths are now returned to the Commonwealth part of the Commonwealth. In 2020, as a multi-racial and democratic re-joined the Commonwealth. country, under the leadership of Nelson Mandela.

The Secretariat is led In the 1990s countries like by -General , , and the first woman , which were Although the is based in the to hold the post. never part of the , UK, people who work there also joined. come from all parts of the Commonwealth. ? W O N K U About 60% of the people in the O The are Y Commonwealth is Queen under 30 years old. The Elizabeth II. She is also Head of Commonwealth Youth State for 16 Commonwealth Council helps young D member countries. Other people to work together I countries are republics or and share their ideas with have their own . decision makers. D 4

Diversity and unity Hundreds of languages are in the Commonwealth represented in this community of 54 countries. The people of the Commonwealth are from many races and religions.

Some large countries like , which has a population of more than 24 million, are sparsely populated. Some smaller countries like , where over 160 million people live, are very densely populated.

Commonwealth countries 32 Commonwealth also have many things in countries are ‘small states’ – common. Most use the usually with populations of , have less than 1.5 million. similar laws and support democracy as a form of government. 5

Helping The Commonwealth Secretariat gives small Commonwealth countries countries the opportunity to make contributions to global meetings and conversations The Commonwealth has about big issues like the many programmes that world economy and . assist member countries.

It makes special efforts to improve education for all, and to support women and young For example, the people to start and run their Commonwealth Secretariat own businesses. It also helps helps countries look for to improve health services. solutions to economic and environmental problems. This includes climate change, which causes rising sea levels, violent storms and In 2020, widespread devastation. Commonwealth leaders will meet in , the capital Every two years, of . Commonwealth Heads The Commonwealth also of Government meet to encourages member discuss shared challenges countries to care about and suggest possible , which means solutions. ensuring that people are treated fairly and enjoy basic freedoms. 6 A Commonwealth From children having fun with their friends to serious athletes training to set new world records, the people of connected by the Commonwealth love .

The 2018 Queen’s The Games include athletics, Baton Relay is the longest and most swimming, , accessible in history, travelling and lawn . They through the entire Commonwealth for They are held every 388 days and 230,000 kilometres. The Commonwealth have Para-Sports events for elite four years. The very Games are called the athletes with a disability. first Games were in ‘Friendly Games’ because A baton carrying a Hamilton, in special message from they use sports to bring But there can be lots of other 1930. 400 athletes Queen Elizabeth ll visits people across the globe sports too, like boxing, cycling, attended. every nation and territory together. gymnastics, badminton, of the Commonwealth. triathlon and wrestling.

7 Getting involved The Commonwealth’s Sport for Development and Peace programme shows countries how sports can be Children and young Clyde, the popular used to promote healthier lives and people right across the mascot for the 2014 teach young people tolerance. Commonwealth can Games, was designed by also get involved in 12-year-old Beth Gilmour the Games! from Scotland. Over 6,600 athletes and team officials from 71 nations and territories made history over 11 unforgettable days of world class sporting action.

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W Here are some other O cool sporting facts about In July 2017, around 1,300 N athletes from 70 nations and Commonwealth The Youth Games territories competed in the K Countries. largest ever Commonwealth were started in 2000 The fastest man in the world comes from Youth Games in , and are for athletes U the Commonwealth. in the Caribbean. from 14 to 18 years old. Former sprinter Usain Bolt from O is the current world record holder in the men’s 100m , clocking 9.58 seconds in Y

2009. At the 2015 World Championships in Beijing he clocked 9.79 seconds. D Australia has won the World Cup I five times. The West Indies and India have both won twice.

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Commonwealth Day

Commonwealth Day is the second Monday of every year.

The theme for the 2020 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), for Commonwealth Day Commonwealth Day is a It is also a great opportunity and for the work of the time for our 2.4 billion- for the Commonwealth to talk Commonwealth more strong family to celebrate The next about some of the important generally is ‘Delivering diversity, strengthen their Commonwealth values in its charter, like a Common Future: friendships, and recognise theme will run for democracy, human rights Connecting, Innovating, the achievements of the two years 2020-21. and development. Transforming’. Commonwealth.

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In London, Queen Elizabeth II attends a A time to celebrate special multi-cultural, multi-faith event at Abbey, with performances from choirs, dancers and musicians.

Schools, communities and governments around the Commonwealth celebrate Commonwealth Day in a variety of ways.

There are street parties, poetry performances, storytelling festivals, fashion shows, flag ceremonies, and sports, dance and music events.

Special messages based on the theme for that year are issued by The Queen and Commonwealth Day the Commonwealth themes have covered Secretary-General. many areas of the Commonwealth’s work. Previous themes include ‘Towards a Common Future’ in 2018 and ‘A Connected Commonwealth’ in 2019.

10 Activities

Why not create your own special Have a public speaking project? Maybe have a fashion parade competition on the showing the national dresses of importance of people different Commonwealth countries. from different countries working together.

Use the internet or books from the library to Pretend you are a research different cultures Draw and paint the Write a story about journalist and write a in the Commonwealth and flags of the 54 member your own country and news story about the make a poster to present countries and display how it became part of Commonwealth, based to your class. them around your the Commonwealth. on the information in classroom. this book. 11

What have you learnt?

1 What percentage of the world’s population live in the Commonwealth? 2 How many athletes attended the first ?

3 When is Commonwealth Day?

4 Why are the Commonwealth Games called the ‘Friendly Games’?

5 How many countries are in the Commonwealth?

6 What was the Commonwealth called in 1931?

7 Which country re-joined the Commonwealth in 1994?

8 Where is the Commonwealth Secretariat based?

9 Where will the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in 2020 be held?

10 Who is the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth?

10 8 6 Patricia Scotland Patricia Kigali London in House Marlborough Africa South Nations of Commonwealth British The 9 7

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4 54 together globe the across people bring to sports uses It March in Monday second The 400 30% About 5 3 Quiz answers Quiz 12 Member countries

Member Country Capital Member Country Capital 10 1. and St John’s 31. Nauru Nauru 51 2. Australia Canberra 32. Wellington 3. The Bahamas Nassau 33. Abuja 4. Bangladesh 34. Islamabad 5. Bridgetown 35. Port Moresby 36. Rwanda Kigali 6. Belmopan 27 11 7. Gaborone 37. St Kitts and Basseterre 34 8. Bandar Seri 38. Castrie Begawan 3 4 39. St Vincent and Kingstown 9. Cameroon Yaoundé the Grenadines 1 19 10. Canada 40. Apia 6 12 20 37 11. Nicosia 41. 39 38 42. Freetown 15 12. Roseau 17 5 43. Singapore 47 33 13. Mbabane 46 42 16 8 14. Suva 44. 24 18 9 25 15. Banjul 45. South Africa Pretoria 50 26 16. Ghana Accra 46. Colombo 21 43 22 17. St George’s 47. Nuku’alofa 36 31 41 18. Georgetown 48. Port of 52 35 44 49 19. India New Delhi 49. Funafuti 50. Kampala 20. Jamaica Kingston 39 21. Nairobi 51. London 54 29 53 52. Dodoma 22. Tarawa 14 28 2 23. Maseru 53. Port Vila 30 24 47 7 24. Lilongwe 54. 25. Kuala Lumpur 13 45 26. Maldives Malé The designations employed and the presentation of material on the map, based on UN practice, do not 23 27. Valletta imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on 28. Port Louis the part of the Commonwealth Secretariat concerning 32 29. Mozambique Maputo the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its 30. Namibia Windhoek frontiers or boundaries.

13 10 51

27 11 34

3 4 1 19 6 12 20 37 39 38 15 17 5 47 33 46 42 16 8 24 18 9 25 50 26 21 43 22 36 31 41 52 35 44 49

39 54 29 53

28 14 30 24 2 47 7 13 45 23

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Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London, SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom © Commonwealth Secretariat, 2015. Reprinted 2020 All rights reserved. This publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or otherwise, provided it is used only for education purposes and is not for resale, and provided full acknowledgement is given to the Commonwealth Secretariat as the original publisher. All photographs are taken by the Commonwealth Secretariat except the following: Commonwealth Games Federation p.7 & p.8; Alamy p.6 (© Karen & Ian Stewart), p.8 (© Roger Sedres); Corbis Images p.3 (Tim Shaffer/Reuters), p.5 (Andrew Bertuleit Photography), (© Mohammad Asad/Demotix); Getty Images p.4 (Walter Dhladhla/Staff), (Max Mumby/Indigo). Published by the Commonwealth Secretariat Designed by Anthony Godber Illustrated by Mark Ruffle Wherever possible, the Commonwealth Secretariat uses paper sourced from sustainable forests or from sources that minimise a destructive impact on the environment. Copies of this publication can be obtained from: Communications Division Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom Email: [email protected] Website: www.thecommonwealth.org