The CHOGM 2026 school outreach programme has extended its reach to Barbuda, engaging 297 students at Holy Trinity Primary School and Sir McChesney George Secondary School as the national school tour enters its final phase.
The visits reached 176 students at Holy Trinity Primary School and 121 students at Sir McChesney George Secondary School. A further 71 teachers and school personnel participated across both institutions, bringing the total number reached in Barbuda to 368.
Through discussions and interactive learning activities, students explored the Commonwealth, the significance of Antigua and Barbuda hosting CHOGM, and their place in this national milestone. Each student received the full set of outreach activities, supporting participation and providing opportunities to continue learning beyond the sessions.
Outreach Lead Wakizia Thomas described the Barbuda visits as an important part of the programme’s commitment to national inclusion.
“The school tours in Barbuda were engaging, with students actively participating in the discussions and activities. These visits form part of a larger push to ensure that our sister island is part of the conversation around CHOGM and that young people in Barbuda have the opportunity to learn, contribute and share in this national milestone,” Thomas said.
Joshuanette Francis of Good Humans 268 highlighted the significance of bringing the outreach programme to the island.
“Having the opportunity to bring this programme to Barbuda is an honour. Too often, activities taking place on the mainland have not included Barbudans, so being here to speak with students about CHOGM is especially meaningful. Seeing every student receive the full set of activities and have the opportunity to participate was a wonderful part of the visit,” Francis said.
For Chaneil Imhoff, CHOGM 2026 Branding and General Advertising Lead and designer of the official logo, the visit carried particular significance.
“Coming to Barbuda felt like a full-circle moment. The Frigate bird motif in the CHOGM 2026 logo draws on an unmistakable part of Barbuda’s identity, and it was deeply meaningful to bring that story to students on the island that inspired it. Throughout the school tour, our discussions, colouring activities, word searches and ‘Find Our Commonwealth’ exercises have helped students connect with CHOGM in ways that are creative, accessible and engaging. This visit brought that connection to life and reinforced that this is a moment for both Antigua and Barbuda,” Imhoff said.
As the school tour winds down, the Outreach Sub-Committee is entering a new phase of public engagement through targeted town hall meetings ahead of CHOGM 2026. These meetings will provide opportunities for communities to learn more about the meeting, ask questions and participate in conversations about the country’s role as host and how they will be impacted.
Building on the school outreach programme, this next phase will broaden public participation and strengthen awareness across Antigua and Barbuda, ensuring that the national conversation reaches beyond classrooms and into communities.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: CHOGM School Outreach Reaches 297 Students in Barbuda as Programme Prepares for Town Hall Engagement.