Fifteen-year-old Dushani is determined to make English more accessible to rural students in her native Sri Lanka. Ojaswee, 16, seeks to improve garbage disposal in Kathmandu, Nepal.  Akeed, also 16, is passionate about preventing sexual violence in his community in the Maldives.  The three were among 17 youth participating in YouthActionNet®'s most recent leadership training session in Washington D.C.  Hosted in the offices of DC PEACE, founded by YouthActionNet® Fellow Nick Martin, the training focused on strengthening each participant's personal leadership capacities.

The youth, ranging in age from 15 to 17, were part of a three-week U.S. State Department cultural exchange intended to build and strengthen relationships among diverse cultures of the world, especially youth.  Coordinated by Pittsburg-based nonprofits, Magee Womancare International and Amizade, Ltd, the group visited schools, organizations, and youth initiatives which focused on leadership, civic engagement, substance abuse prevention, and the environment.  Each delegate was responsible for developing and presenting a Community Action Plan to be implemented upon return to their home countries which was enabled by small grants awarded to support their initiative.

While we caught the youth on the last leg of their journey, YouthActionNet® trainer and Program Manager Karen Phillips and I found them to be in exceptional spirits with high energy and a genuine interest in furthering their knowledge around social entrepreneurship.

The training focused on two activities - a 'life map' exercise  designed to help the youth better understand their core values and the pivotal events that prompted their leadership journeys and an exercise aimed at identifying their personal leadership styles and how to work best as a team. 

After a rousing conversation and some affirming feedback from the youth participants, Karen and I returned to Baltimore inspired by these articulate young leaders and better informed of the challenges youth face is three very different South Asian countries.  Based on the smiles, thank you's, and photos taken at the end of the session, we can safely assume the feeling was mutual!

Eve Brecker

Program Coordinator, YouthActionNet®

International Youth Foundation