Young Lankans activated as agents of change
View(s):The world as we know it is changing before our very eyes. No longer is there a barrier on information caused by borders or other geographical restrictions. We are all interconnected by a multitude of factors; be it technology, politics, the economy or even culture.
Thirukumar Premakumar and Ishan Jalill at the UK workshop
Having realised the amazing outcomes that could stem from this situation, and how these connections could easily be ‘collaborations’, the British Council initiated the ‘Active Citizens’ programme which focuses on building trust, understanding and sustainable development by bringing together people with different beliefs and perspectives to learn from and share with each other.
Working with local organisations around the globe, the British Council reaches diverse communities and trains participants in the skills and knowledge needed to generate social change in their communities. Active Citizens connects thousands of like-minded people around the world who collectively want to make a fairer and more inclusive society, and influence change on issues that have a global impact as well.
As part of the Active Citizens Programme conducted by the British Council Sri Lanka, two gifted young Sri Lankans, Ishan Jalill and Thirukumar Premakumar visited the UK, for the Active Citizens International Study Visits (UK ISV), a week-long workshop in November 2014. Over 21 participants from countries like UK, Wales, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Uganda and Poland were at the workshop.
Ishan, blind from birth graduated from the University of Colombo with a degree in International Relations, and is currently the president of Action Against Apathy (AAA), a youth-led voluntary organization/platform, aimed at protecting, promoting and ensuring human rights, democracy, good governance, rule of law and social justice, through the active and meaningful participation of young people.
Thiru is the president of International Youth Alliance for Peace (IYAP), a youth-driven voluntary organisation, working tirelessly in the field of peace and reconciliation, using sports as a means of engagement between all people, everywhere. They conduct many programmes with well recognised sports bodies such as the National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports.
The multicultural nature of the UK led them to work with several other organisations, helping them understand the concept of ‘celebrating diversity’ and promoting the ideals of peaceful coexistence and non-discrimination.
The two were able to hone their skills in leadership and returned with more determination to take on the challenges back home. For Ishan in particular, deprived of being able to see the beauty of the world around him, it was truly a life changing experience to be working in different social and cultural backgrounds.
On their return, Ishan and Thiru have both taken steps to conduct similar Active Citizens programmes in Sri Lanka, with the help and support of the British Council, in order to be able to reciprocate their inspirations of this experience, and serve their communities and ultimately strive to make a difference in the lives of the people around them.
The British Council Sri Lanka also recently sent out another aspiring young individual Achini Nadeeshani to Pakistan on the Active Citizens International Study Visit 2014-15. Having seen the struggles of women leading social enterprises, prevailing issues of education in local villages, and the importance of bringing awareness and stopping issues such as sexual harassment, gender discrimination and child labour; the story of how Pakistan had become a shelter for multi-cultural ethnicity was an insightful lesson. On her return, she presented empowering messages through her experiences, such as how the strength of a woman is not her traditional life style but her unconditional spirit, which must continue through hardships to dictate who she wants to become.
This International Study Visit created a network of Active Citizens who think globally and act locally. The British Council calls all aspiring young leaders to join in helping cause a small ripple in our nation that may one day go on to be a global wave.
To find out more about the Active Citizens programme, please call the British Council on + (94) 4521 521.