There are many engaged young people across local communities in Sri Lanka who want to contribute to improving municipalities, supporting members of the community, and actively participating in societal life. Young people make crucial contributions to our communities and are empowered by participating, evolving their ideas of citizenship, enhancing personal development, and active involvement in society.
FAIRTRADE works and stands for meaningful and decent youth life. To realize their value to thrive and mobilize for a justified change, the development of youth leadership skills is of utmost importance. By assisting the youth to acquire the required skills, they are empowered to become the authors of their futures by seizing opportunities that will change their lives and those of their communities forever.
Through YOUNG leadership and social action programs, Fairtrade NAPP enables them to become self-supporting individuals who are able to care for themselves, and their families, and contribute significantly to the future of their community. A 03-day Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Workshop’ was organised for 36 youth from 21 Fairtrade tea and flower producer organisations in Sri Lanka to identify the potential youth groups in farms and plantations for carrying out visionary and sustainable leadership building in their own community.
The program was aimed at empowering and strengthening the youth by creating awareness of youth entrepreneurial skills and leadership qualities, facilitating a sustainable in-house system to perform supportive roles in their community, identifying representatives to work on dynamic projects such as smart agricultural activities, climate justice, and responsible communities and nominating them to take part in innovative schemes and thematic awards.
On Day 01 the youth were trained on motivation for life success, soft skills, and positive attitude development, framing one’s personal development plan along with 03 physical motivational activities during the day
On Day 02 the youth celebrated ‘International Youth Day’ with a street drama on Youth intervention in the core social issues and innovative thinking along with a youth procession.
There were conceptual discussions on Fairtrade vision with a focus on youth, Youth Strategy Consultation for Sri Lanka followed by 03 team building activities. The day was concluded with an exposure visit to Sri Pada College of Education the only Teacher Training institution in the upcountry area.
On the last day of the training Nilanka Chandima – Deputy Director, Palm Foundation conducted a brainstorming session for taking in inputs and suggestions from the youth for framing the Youth Strategy and also for developing the youth profiles from the region.
Through the intensive, fun 03-day workshop the youth are expected to have self-confidence and high motivational power and interexchange their experience and learnings to help one another be self-sufficient.
