Sparking Climate Activism in Youth Minds and Hearts

University Youth Climate Ambassadors supported by British Council showcase climate action projects

On 19 March, the British Council in Sri Lanka convened its newest batch of Youth Climate Ambassadors at the BMICH for ‘The Climate Spark: Connecting Stories for Change’. Over 150 dynamic young activists from across the island gathered to showcase their completed climate action projects, implemented with support from the British Council and their universities.

The showcase featured an impressive range of 24 inspiring projects conceptualised and executed by the Youth Climate Ambassadors (YCAs) over the course of 3-4 months. The projects are remarkable for their innovation, ambition and range. They varied from successful efforts to reduce carbon footprints within university faculties to short films to research and technical innovation and community engagement on issues linked to the climate. In addition to project funding, the British Council supported the teams with 38 mentors alongside implementation partners Earthlanka Youth Network and the Sevanatha Urban Resource Center.

The latest YCA programme commenced in August 2025, with British Council training undergraduate-level university youth (selected via a competitive process and representing both state and private institutions) with essential skills, knowledge and networks for climate activism. Partnerships with six reputed universities paved the way for the programme’s success; the University of Ruhuna, Open University of Sri Lanka, University of Jaffna, NSBM Green University, University of Sri Jayawardenepura and Ocean University.

“For our students, this was more than just training. It created a new platform to think beyond their academic responsibilities, to connect their learning with real-world issues, and to become catalysts of change in society,” remarked Prof. P. Ravirajan, Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Jaffna. “I am confident that the YCA initiative will leave a lasting impact on our students, our community, and on the fight against climate change.”

Sindoory Sivanesan, an undergraduate student from the University of Jaffna, says the programme provided her an opportunity to understand her region and communities better. Her group examined the correlation between sea cucumber farming and the seagrass population in the Pannai region. “We were able to understand the depth of the study only after stepping into the field,” says Sindoory. “This programme provided a valuable opportunity for us to explore the balance between sustaining local livelihoods and protecting the ecosystem.”   

In Colombo, students from the University of Sri Jayawardenepura took a proactive approach in providing evidence-based solutions for a farming community in Yaggapitiya, Kurunegala trying to manage unpredictable weather conditions. “A friend told us about an elder in his village who could predict changes in the weather by observing his environment- factors like animal behaviour,” says Dumindu Shan of the team. “That made us think- what if we could create a dataset that would help farmers to combine this kind of traditional knowledge with modern forecasting, which would also complement their instinct-based approach?” Their project developed a dataset for use by the farmers, alongside awareness sessions and articles.

In the South, a group from the University of Ruhuna tackled declining bee populations in the Kamburupitiya area by setting up a garden populated to attract bees within their campus, founding a university Bee Circle for sustainability, and conducting awareness for students and farmers. “I gained practical experience through this project, and had the chance to share my own knowledge with others,” says Dinura Lihinikaduwage. “Knowledge should not belong to one person but to society, and I count myself lucky to have been a part of that sharing.”

At ‘The Climate Spark’, YCAs were also able to benefit from knowledge shared by experienced speakers through a panel discusssion and Q&A. The panel featured Dr Vinya Ariyaratne (President, Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement), Prof. Tharanga Thoradeniya (Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo) and Sajini Wickramasinghe (lawyer, researcher and climate negotiator). They took questions directly from Youth Climate Ambassadors, covering topics such as digital activism, engaging policymakers and mobilising communities.

For the Q&A’s youngest panellist, Sajini Wickramasinghe, seeing the progress made by YCAs was all the more heartening given that she started her own climate journey with British Council in 2022. “Through YCA I was exposed to various individuals working on high-level policy in the climate space, and I still stay in touch with them,” she remembers. Sajini now participates in major climate conferences globally, representing Sri Lanka. She says, “I would really encourage these YCAs to make the most out of this opportunity from British Council to grow their network, so they can make a meaningful contribution through their future careers.”

The opening remarks at ‘The Climate Spark’ were delivered by Orlando Edwards- Country Director, British Council Sri Lanka. His remarks were complemented by an address on the UK Climate Outlook delivered by Theresa O’Mahony- Deputy High Commissioner at the British High Commission.

In his remarks, Mr Edwards encouraged YCAs to continue engaging their communities. “Whether you are raising awareness, designing community initiatives, promoting sustainable practices, or developing innovative solutions, each step contributes to a broader movement towards a more sustainable and climate-resilient society,” he noted, adding “The ideas you have developed are just the beginning. I encourage you to continue refining your projects, strengthening your networks, and finding new ways to scale your impact. The British Council remains committed to supporting young people and working with partners to create more opportunities like this, where youth leadership, collaboration, and innovation can flourish.”

Invitees at the event engaged in interactive demonstrations of the 24 completed climate projects. Representatives from government, private sector, non-profits and other universities were able to speak directly with YCAs to understand how they intended to take their activism forward.

The Climate Spark was a powerful reminder that the drive for climate action is already alive in the hearts and minds of young people across Sri Lanka. Equipped with knowledge, strengthened by collaboration, and inspired by real-world impact, these YCAs are not just imagining a better future- they are actively building it. As they carry their ideas forward into communities, institutions, and global platforms, their collective energy signals a hopeful truth: meaningful climate action is not a distant goal, but a movement already in motion, led by a generation ready to create lasting change.

The Youth Climate Ambassador programme was held under the conceptual framework of British Council’s Youth Connect- a global youth leadership programme which supports young people to develop the skills, inspiration and connections to tackle major challenges like climate change, employability and inequality.