Belizean Ashley Longford Secures Regional Role in Commonwealth Students’ Association

Belizean youth advocate Ashley Longford has been elected as the Caribbean Regional Representative for the Commonwealth Students’ Association (CSA). Her election was confirmed yesterday, and her term will run from 2025 to 2028. She now joins nine student leaders who make up the new CSA Executive Committee.

Longford has built a reputation as a strong voice for young people. She previously served as president of the National Students’ Union of Belize, sits as a youth representative for the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, and is the executive representative for RISE Belize. She said her work “has always been about empowering students and strengthening representation.”

Her campaign focused on building a stronger regional student movement. She pledged to “unify Caribbean student voices under one strong platform” and to expand the reach of unions in countries where they do not yet exist.

After her election, Longford said she was “beyond grateful and humbled” to step into the role.

She said in a social media statement, “As I step into this role, my mission is clear: To unite the Caribbean region under a strong umbrella student association/union. To revive and strengthen student unions where they do not yet exist, ensuring every country has a voice. To amplify the voices of Caribbean students within the wider Commonwealth movement. To build bridges of solidarity across all Commonwealth regions, because together we are stronger.”