 Greetings everyone. It's good to be able to speak to you as you connect with one another for your global village conference. Connecting with each other is one of the main advantages we enjoy as members of the Commonwealth Family of Nations. Whether we are from India or other member countries in Asia or from Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas, Europe or the Pacific, we share friendship and care about each other and work together to make life better for everyone. The 54 member countries of the Commonwealth are spread across every continent and ocean and together we account for one third of the world's population. Of the 2.4 billion people who live in the Commonwealth, 60% are under the age of 30, so although we are a long established family, we are still a young family. This means that we look to the future with great hope and with big plans for making our world a better place in which we can all live together in health, peace and prosperity. That seems to me also to be the purpose and idea which motivates Pangea and so in the same way that we draw encouragement and support from one another as individual women and girls, men and boys, we also draw strength and broader vision when we work together across communities and the boundaries of nations. The pandemic which has swept across the world with such devastating consequences over the past year has reminded us of how closely we are interconnected and independent wherever we live on this planet and that the well-being of any one of us affects the welfare of all. The consequences of COVID-19 go far beyond the tragic loss of life and impact on health services. Trade and travel have been drastically curtailed, resulting in sharp economic downturns and painful loss of jobs and income. Education has been affected very badly in many countries and the long-term consequences of closed schools and cancelled examinations will affect young people in many of our communities for years to come. Some are referring to this new generation as the COVID-19 generation. However, this should be seen as a positive and not a negative because it is a time of great innovation, collaboration and inspiration. Just as the post-war generation in 1945 was responsible for some of the most remarkable improvements in the world, so too, I believe will be the case for those of you of this generation who will craft the solutions of some of today's most entrenched and intractable problems, particularly those relating to climate change and the crisis which it has created. We have become far more conscious over recent years of the ways in which misusing natural resources or failing to care for our environment, the ocean and the living lands makes life more dangerous for everyone. Climate change brings some frequent incidents of disastrous weather events and life for people in some places becomes unsustainable. Many Commonwealth countries are already facing increased temperature, sea level rise, storm surges, drought, floods and hurricanes. The leaders of the Commonwealth nations have been expressing concern about this for many years since as long ago as 1989 when the leaders of the Commonwealth came together and expressed their deep concern about the existential threat posed by climate change in the Lankawi declaration in Malaysia. Since then, we have been joining together in practical action to change things for the better. We can only do this by deepening understanding of how our own action affects others, by changing attitudes and by working together towards a future that is safer and pays attention to the needs of everyone. And where the opportunities and progress offered by education and prosperity can be enjoyed by all. The values and principles we share are brought together in the Commonwealth Charter and I would encourage all of you to read it and study it. Especially as its opening words are, and I quote, we the people of the Commonwealth, which means you and me. The Charter and the commitments it makes were adopted in 2012 by the heads of government of all our member countries and it was signed at a ceremony on Commonwealth Day 2013 by Queen Elizabeth II, the head of the Commonwealth surrounded by young people representing many of our member countries. The same priorities of peace with mutual respect and gender equality, democracy and development through good government, access to health services and education, provision for safe housing and employment, respect for our planet and why stewardship of its resources were all brought together two years later in the United Nations agenda for sustainable development. I expect you know that the target date for the sustainable development goals of that agenda is now less than 10 years away. We all have much to do if we are to achieve those vitally important goals by 2030. As Secretary General of the Commonwealth, together with my teams at the Commonwealth Secretariat and in other partner organisations, it is my privilege to work alongside the governments and people of all 54 of our member countries so that together we can achieve progress towards those goals through democracy and development in which all can share. An important principle in all that we do and for those alongside whom we work towards our Commonwealth Charter commitments and the sustainable development goals is to leave no one behind. Respecting the dignity and human rights of every person, regardless of how rich or poor they may be, whether they are male or female, whatever their beliefs or cultural heritage lays the foundation on which we are able to build together towards achieving our full potential as members of the wonderfully diverse human family, which is so fully represented in our Commonwealth family. Through our Commonwealth initiatives, we work to transform the lives of children and young people so they can become responsible, educated and global citizens empowered to help make their communities stronger, safer and more inclusive places to live, learn, play and work. We are also concerned for the welfare and continuing development of disadvantaged people, whatever their age and for marginalised communities wherever they are located. This means making sure that the voices of all are heard and heed is given to their aspirations and expectations. Being able to participate freely in democratic processes, elections to local councils, to regional assemblies and to national parliaments is of immense importance. This means a person enjoying the freedom to assemble and to join with others in campaigning on matters which affect his or her life. It means having the resources, time and money to be able to continue with education, to be able to read and to have access to free and fair sources of information and challenge of communication. It also means being able to trust the authorities responsible for maintaining law and order, the police and court systems which uphold justice, as well as enjoying our own right to live free from fear. We have a responsibility to ensure that others enjoy that freedom too. This means refusing to allow those motivated by ill will or extremist views or beliefs to instill fear through violence or the threat of violence. It also means being alert to the possibility that people we know may be living in fear because of violence or abuse in their homes or from members of the family or wider community. It is distressing to see that violence in the home has risen very sharply during the coronavirus pandemic and as a result of many people having to spend more time confined at home and in cramped living conditions with a very limited chance of escaping harm or finding safe refuge. The social, human and economic crisis caused by the pandemic has exposed more starkly the inequalities and disparities in our societies. Even before COVID-19, our education systems were at risk of leaving millions of learners behind, particularly girls. Despite commendable progress, illiteracy remains a barrier for many. In sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, literacy levels are only 64% and 71% respectively. Put another way, only two-thirds and three-quarters of people in those regions are able to read and write. Factors such as living in a remote location, being poor and being disadvantaged or marginalized socially immediately increase the risk of low educational attainment. So those of us who are fortunate enough to have access to good quality education must do all we can to remedy and change the long-lasting damage caused to so many people's lives through limited access to schools and teachers. The pandemic is making the situation even worse and it seems likely that because of its economic impact alone, as many as 24 million more children and young people globally may not have access to school or drop out of education next year at levels from pre-primary to tertiary. The nations of the Commonwealth are determined to work together to fight against the awful impact the pandemic is having on education and through mutual support and cooperation to emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. Through our work, we aim to support the most vulnerable children, youth and adults, especially those living in poorer districts or remote areas, girls, refugees, persons with disabilities, so that they can continue their learning and training to reach their full potential. The heads of government and education ministers of the Commonwealth countries are concerned particularly to make sure that the lack of access to ICT and the internet do not widen the divide in education between rich and poor, between privileged and disadvantaged. And this has become even more of a priority with distance and online learning becoming more necessary during the pandemic. I referred earlier on determination to ensure no one is left behind and that is why we are concerned particularly for marginalized communities and people who tend to exclude that such as vulnerable youth, refugees and women. Access to education for all irrespective of the ability to pay is an aspiration which the Commonwealth is ready to do everything it can to achieve. It is encouraging to know that you are alongside us in this through your involvement with Pangier Global Village and through other similar multilateral initiatives with which students and staff at Elpro International School are associated. I commend your commitment to becoming truly global citizens and your readiness to contribute to making our world a better place for all. Events such as the Accelerate programme plus and the student-led conference and sport and arts events help to form confident, active and creative individuals ready to achieve their learning targets and to attain their full potential in all aspects of life. The Elpro mission of providing a broad and balanced international curriculum and optimal learning environment for children and building a community of mindful, impactful and empathetic students aligns closely with the shared vision and values of the wider Commonwealth and our determination to deliver a brighter future for children and young people in all our member countries. In wishing you well for the Pangier Global Village conference, I would emphasise the importance of all schools being places of peace, hope and reconciliation. Working together in the Commonwealth and alongside governments and other multilateral organisations, let us spread that message and ensure that other children and young people in all parts of our wonderful world are able to join as fellow global villagers and classmates. Whatever we may wish our future to be, it is best served by granting all children and young people the right to live, learn and develop with dignity, in peace and security. Be strong and encourage one another. Together we can achieve great things.