As the national school tour of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026 outreach initiative enters its concluding stretch, the programme has successfully extended its educational mission to Barbuda, bringing interactive activities and critical information to hundreds of students and school staff across two local institutions.
A total of 297 students took part in the programme during visits to Holy Trinity Primary School and Sir McChesney George Secondary School. Of that group, 176 participants were from the primary campus, while 121 attended the secondary school. An additional 71 teachers and administrative staff from both schools joined the sessions, pushing the total number of Barbudan participants to 368.
Wakizia Thomas, who leads the outreach initiative, emphasized that the extension of the tour to Barbuda represents a core promise of the entire programme: building a national conversation that includes every community across Antigua and Barbuda.
“The school sessions in Barbuda were incredibly dynamic, with students jumping into discussions and hands-on activities with real enthusiasm,” Thomas explained. “These visits are part of our wider commitment to making sure our sister island is fully included in discussions around CHOGM 2026, and that young Barbudans get the same chance to learn about the event, contribute their perspectives, and feel invested in this major national milestone.”
Joshuanette Francis, a representative from local organizing partner Good Humans 268, echoed that sentiment, noting that bringing the outreach programme to the island fills a long-standing gap in national public engagement.
“It is such an honor to be able to bring this programme to Barbuda,” Francis said. “Too often, major national activities that are planned on the Antiguan mainland leave Barbudan communities out of the process. That makes being here to talk to students about CHOGM 2026 even more meaningful. It was incredibly rewarding to see every student get access to the full range of activities and get the chance to participate fully in the conversation.”
For Chaneil Imhoff, who serves as the branding and general advertising lead for CHOGM 2026 and also designed the event’s official logo, the trip to Barbuda carried special personal and symbolic meaning.
“Coming here to Barbuda felt like coming full circle,” Imhoff shared. “The frigate bird motif that is the centerpiece of the CHOGM 2026 logo draws directly from one of Barbuda’s most recognizable natural and cultural identities. It was incredibly meaningful to share the origin story of that logo with the students who call this island home. Throughout our national school tour, we’ve used creative, accessible activities like group discussions, logo coloring exercises, word puzzles, and ‘Find Our Commonwealth’ games to help students connect with what CHOGM is and what it means for our country. This visit turned that connection from a story into a real experience, and made it clear that this event is a milestone for both Antigua and Barbuda, equally.”
With the school outreach programme nearing completion across the country, the initiative is set to enter a new phase in the lead-up to the 2026 meeting. Organizers will expand public engagement beyond school walls, rolling out community-focused activities to strengthen national awareness and ensure the conversation about CHOGM 2026 reaches every corner of Antigua and Barbuda.