Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) is carrying out an initiative called Youth Leadership for Climate Action (YLCA), targeting young people living in the Colombo district. The British Council is funding this program to develop young people into community leaders in climate action. The project includes a residential training program; either individually or in groups, the candidates must undertake a community intervention. BSL and CurveUp (Pvt) Ltd., are conducting the training sessions collaboratively.
Climate change is a significant issue for Sri Lanka and both human and natural systems could be impacted by its effects. In Sri Lanka, there are about 2.6 million young people, between the ages of 18 and 25 A quarter of the entire population would be considered young if the age range was expanded to include those between 15 and 29 years.
The British Council conducted a study in 2021 and discovered that while young people in Sri Lanka are generally aware of climate change, the majority lack a technical understanding and in-depth knowledge of the subject. The survey also found a lack of opportunities and platforms for youth to take initiatives and make decisions on climate change, as well as a lack of openness among state and non-state community stakeholders to up-take initiatives from young people.
As Sri Lankan youth showed a strong interest in learning more about climate change, the majority of them think that their thoughts and actions today will have an impact later on. This suggested that both governmental and non-governmental actors might engage with young people, enhance climate-related education and training, and offer them chances to take climate action.
In partnership with the British Council, BSL is giving a chance to Sri Lankan youth involved in local climate action (mitigation and adaptation) to expand their knowledge, expertise, and networks in order to provide better, more significant, and sustainable solutions to urgent social, economic, and environmental climate-related issues by involving local communities through the “Youth Leadership for Climate Action (YCA)” project.
YLCA project has its specific objective to enhance the knowledge and capabilities of youth for more effective and inclusive climate action through social mobilization.
The project will have four outcomes,
- Improved Knowledge, Skills and Connections of youth for community-level Climate action.
- Effective and Inclusive Climate Action Plans are developed and implemented by youth.
- Fellow youth are inspired and motivated towards favorable Climate action through shared experiences.
- Stakeholder support, collaboration, and recognition for youth Climate action.
This project is based in Colombo, and all youth community interventions are taking place in Colombo. Training for youth capacity-building is now being conducted, and the entire project will be completed by the end of March 2023.
Keep in touch with us for more updates on this fascinating program!
