Youth of the Nation lead the way by Flying High

For the first time in the history of the Commonwealth, and to celebrate this great family of nations, young members of the United Kingdom Army Cadet Force (ACF) will take the Commonwealth flag to the top of the highest peaks in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on Commonwealth Day – Monday 13 March 2017. This year’s special theme is ‘A Peace-building Commonwealth’.

As well as the mountaintop ceremonies, Army Cadets will observe Commonwealth Day by raising the flag at 53 other locations throughout the United Kingdom at 10.00hrs that morning as part of this international initiative.

Lord Mayors and Mayors, Lord Provosts, town and parish councils, local authorities and local communities, school children and college students, members of Girlguiding and the Scouts from around the UK and Commonwealth, Sea and Air Cadets, charities and community groups, Commonwealth Ex-Servicemen and major shipping lines, training ships crewed by disabled crewman people, and many others around the world will raise more than 950 Commonwealth flags at 10.00hrs local time on Monday 13 March – Commonwealth Day 2017, in a shared celebration of this amazing family of nations that encompasses the globe.

The Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth initiative, now in its third year, is again catching the imagination of thousands of participants from all walks of life, inspiring them to join with others throughout the Commonwealth. As a collective public expression of commitment to the Commonwealth, it enables participants to show appreciation for the values the Commonwealth upholds, and the opportunities offered for friendship and cooperation with fellow Commonwealth young and old citizens around the world.

P&O and Cunard Line, for the third year, wherever they may be travelling in the world that morning, will be raising the Commonwealth flag on board their ships at 10.00hrs local time, and the Jubilee Sailing Trust likewise on their two ships, Lord Nelson and Tenacious, involving the disabled members of the community in this event.

Scouts in The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Republic of Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Samoa, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad and Tobago will also be raising the Commonwealth flag at 10.00hrs local time on 13 March, joining thousands of other young people around the world in committing themselves to the values of the Commonwealth Charter and this year’s special theme: ‘A Peace-building Commonwealth’.

In the Cayman Islands, the Commonwealth Flag will once again be raised outside the Government Administration Building promptly at 10 am during a ceremony from 9.45 to 10.10 am. In attendance will be the Governor, the Premier, the Deputy Governor, Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, government officials, members of the Cadet Corps, Girl Guides and Boy Scouts.

After a short introduction, , the Honorary Representative of the Royal Commonwealth Society in the Cayman Islands, Mr. Lemuel Hurlston, CVO, MBE, JP will read out a message from the Commonwealth Secretary-General. This will be followed by a reading of the Commonwealth Affirmation by a member of the Girl Guides and the raising of the Commonwealth Flag by a Cadet Corps member.

The flag-raising is a common act of witness around the globe where members of a great family of nations will reaffirm the commitment of all Commonwealth member states to democracy, development, and respect for diversity.

Public institutions, schools, civil society organisations and the media in Commonwealth member states are being encouraged to consider how ‘A Peace-building Commonwealth’ can be promoted through their activities – including Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth. English Heritage will also be raising the Commonwealth flag at many of their historic properties and in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex, 60 town councils are taking part, thanks to generous financial support from the enterprise agency, Nwes.

The UK’s leading enterprise agency, Nwes, is leading the way to seek, encourage, build and support a young entrepreneur within each of the Commonwealth countries.

Partnering with Commonwealth Pageantmaster and founder of Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth, Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, Nwes seeks to involve and educate the international communities about the Commonwealth and the importance of its unity. Aspiring to improve the communities’ right across the Commonwealth, Nwes commenced with a pilot project in Kenya.

Nwes was established in 1982 and is now the largest non-for profit enterprise agencies in the UK. They provide total business support, boost self-employment and encourage enterprise.

In January 2017, Nwes started providing business support and shall do so for a period of 12 months, to a local Kenyan lady, Violet Adhiambo. Violet is introducing a female sexual health program to eight schools in the Kisii county of Kenya, which is located in the South West of the country, supporting the good works already undertaken in Kisumu, Kenya, by charity Sageinkenya.

Sageinkenya is a growing UK based charity helping young girls in Kenya whose families cannot provide them with hygienic sanitary products of low family income. This has a detrimental impact on their education, as they often stay away from school during their menstruation. The charity currently provides monthly supplies of sanitary towels and underwear to over 800 girls in 16 schools in 3 counties of Western Kenya.

The Ward Councilor for the district claims that of the eight schools in his district, 100% of the girls between the ages of 13-18 years old are not in the position to afford the appropriate product to effectively manage their menstruation. This results in many girls dropping out of school or being absent for significant periods of time.

Many Kenyan girls are also uneducated on the facts of menstruation, puberty and reproductive health and this, together with cultural myths, can lead to embarrassment and low self-esteem. In many households the subject of menstruation is considered strictly taboo. These myths which have been passed down from generation to generation hold very little knowledge about the actual biological process of menstruation. This lack of factual information, often results in the girls’ practical needs related to managing their menstruation, not being appropriately addressed.

Mr. Peek added: “I am also extremely delighted to announce that our chosen international charity for this event for Commonwealth Day 2018, and for the next five years, is Make-A-Wish UK, especially as we respect and applaud their amazing work in this country and abroad.” The project aims to assist in providing a young child with their one true ‘wish’, along with raising valuable funds for this good cause.

Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth

Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR – Commonwealth Pageantmaster

Tel: + 44 (0) 7737 262 913

Email: [email protected]

Make-A-Wish UK

Joanne Porter – PR Manager

Tel: + 44 (0) 12764 050 92

Email: [email protected]

Army Cadet Force

Valerie McBurney

Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7426 8373 – 07795 296 838

Email: [email protected]

NWES

Caron Lemmer – Special Projects Manager

Tel: + 44 (0) 1603 227 880 – 07702 539 406

Email: [email protected]

SAGEINKENYA

David Pearson – Chairman

Tel: + 44 (0) 1362 850 624

Email: [email protected]

Fly A Flag for Commonwealth in the Cayman Islands

Event Outline

What: Fly A Flag for Commonwealth Day

When: 13 March 2017

Where: Outside Gov’t Admin Building

Time: 9:45am – 10:10am

Details:

• MC to begin with short intro (MC – possibly Mr. Lemuel or Cabinet Secretary Mr. Samuel Rose, JP)
• Message from the Commonwealth Secretary-General – by Mr. Lemuel Hurlston, CVO, MBE, JP (Honorary Representative of the Royal Commonwealth Society in the Cayman Islands)
• Reading of the Commonwealth Affirmation — by Cayman Girlguiding
• Raising of the Commonwealth Flag – by Cayman Islands Cadet Corps
• Event ends; Photo opps

Invitees:

• HE the Governor
• The Hon. Premier
• The Hon. Chief Justice
• Hon Ministers and Members of the Legislative Assembly & Cabinet
• Chief Officers
• Mr. Lemuel Hurlston
• Honorary Consuls
• Cadet Corps
• Boys Scouts
• Girl Guides
• Media

IMAGE: HE Patricia Scotland

The following is a Message From The Commonwealth Secretary General HE Patricia Scotland