Equipping youth with knowledge and skills to promote diversity and inclusion

The Commonwealth Secretariat and UNDP launch a new programme for youth in Sri Lanka

July 7, 2022
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Colombo, Sri Lanka, 7 July 2022: In a world knit ever closer with the threads of globalization, it is important to strengthen relationships and build unity among communities to maintain social cohesion. Along with an interconnected world comes the growing need to uphold peace and security, by addressing the importance of fostering good values, attitudes and communication skills, especially among the young future leaders of society.

To build a value-sharing platform with a focus on inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-generational dialogue, the Commonwealth Secretariat (CS), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka, is set to host ‘Youth for Diversity and Inclusion’ for young peace-builders and government officials in Sri Lanka. The workshop will be delivered by expert facilitators from the Commonwealth Secretariat and UNDP. ‘Youth for Diversity and Inclusion’ is an initiative delivered under the Faith in the Commonwealth Programme and is backed by the HackaDev Academy of Learning and Skills - UNDPs youth skills-building platform.
The training programme will support and teach groups to respect, tolerate and understand the dynamics behind others’ beliefs and worldviews. The programme advocates for progressive, empowered, and educated young people as the key to overcoming biases, made easier by technology and interconnectedness brought about by a fast-paced 21st Century world. 
Commenting on the timeliness of such initiatives, Mark Albon, Head of the CVE Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat said, “The Faith in the Commonwealth programme aims to nurture and improve relationships across different communities, cultures, faiths and non-faiths. These workshops, delivered in partnership with UNDP Sri Lanka, will bring together government interlocutors, policymakers, young peacebuilders and other stakeholders and thus will also foster connections between decision-makers and young people, building trust, networks and collaboration whilst bolstering the capacity of both to PVE.”

The project was born out of a need to improve general understanding and respect for diversity, alongside the promotion of social cohesion among youth in Sri Lanka. The programme will also seek to foster feelings of global citizenship and increase awareness of the tools and skills available to build cohesive communities. 

Speaking about UNDP’s expertise and role in promoting and advocating for greater social cohesion, especially among young people, Malin Herwig, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Sri Lanka stated, “Seeing how rapidly society changes, we must be aware and acceptive of the features that make us unique as individuals and those which make us alike. Youth, who are key agents of change, play a vital role in bridging gaps to build inclusive societies. They must be equipped with the tools that allow them to express themselves in a diverse society to bring about greater social cohesion. As our differences help us better understand others around us, UNDP works to create networks and relationships to advance youth empowerment, and peaceful co-existence.”

Sixty youth participants from across Sri Lanka, and ten government officials, will take part in two 4-day workshops designed to help young people act as catalysts of youth-led action. Following a series of networking and collaboration in the workshop, the participants will return to their local communities to deliver social projects with community members to help bridge the gap from network to person, a process that aims to continue to grow and aid participants as a support resource even after the workshop concludes. 

In light of the various social and political challenges the world is experiencing, youth already possess the potential to build respect and understanding among their communities that could pave the way for change on a global scale. Through this programme, UNDP together with CS hopes to enhance knowledge, refine skills and foster a sense of global citizenship, capable of addressing challenges of contemporary life with a stronger understanding and respect for religious and cultural diversity amongst youth in countries of the Commonwealth. 

If you are interested in applying for the workshops visit http://www.hackadev.lk/youth-for-diversity-and-inclusion/ for more information.

 

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