The CHOGM 2026 National School Tour has visited 10 schools in its first two days, introducing students to the Commonwealth and the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Forum while encouraging families to take part in recycling activities.

The tour began Monday at Antigua Girls High School, Five Islands Primary, Green Bay Primary, Temple Academy and Golden Grove. On Tuesday, it continued to Jennings Secondary, Jennings Primary, Bendals Primary, Honey Tree Primary and Tabernacle Academy.

Scheduled to run until October 30, the tour aims to reach schools across Antigua and Barbuda, subject to scheduling and logistics. It brings together the CHOGM Media and Public Affairs Committee, Youth Forum representatives and Good Humans 268, with support from Youth Correspondents.

“We want students to understand what CHOGM means for Antigua and Barbuda and how they can be involved,” said Everton Barnes, co-chair of the CHOGM Media and Public Affairs Committee. “Going into schools allows us to have that conversation directly and help it reach families and the wider community.”

At Antigua Girls High School, former student and Miss Antigua and Barbuda 2024 Desrie Markham, an attorney-at-law, spoke on behalf of the Commonwealth Youth Forum. Students will also be invited to share their views through a Youth Forum survey.

“Young people should have a voice in the conversations taking place around CHOGM,” said Donte Walter, co-chair of the Commonwealth Youth Forum. “Through the school tour and the Youth Forum survey, we want to hear their concerns and ideas and help them understand how they can participate.”

Each participating school will receive Our Commonwealth Classroom: CHOGM 2026 School Activity Guide. Secondary schools will receive 10 copies and primary schools five. The guide is designed to help teachers bring Commonwealth topics into lessons and activities after the tour ends.

“The aim is to make CHOGM accessible and engaging for students,” said CHOGM 2026 Branding Lead Chaneil Imhoff. “These resources give teachers practical ways to connect the Commonwealth to their lessons and keep the learning going after the school visit.”

Recycling is another focus of the visits. Schools will receive flyers to display near their blue recycling barrels, while students will take home a letter and Plastic Pledge for their parents or guardians. Each student will also receive a bag to fill with recyclable household items and return to school.

Joshuanette Francis of Good Humans 268 said the collected items will support the creation of Commonwealth bottle-cap flags. Primary school students will also receive booklets covering recycling, waste management and responsible environmental practices.

Schools will record how many students and staff the outreach reaches, and feedback gathered during the tour will inform the project’s final document.