Young leaders realize dreams through Visions Global Empowerment – AllPeopleBeHappy Collaboration
Visions Global Empowerment operates in the Jaffna district in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, which was once the heart of four decades of protracted war. Though 15 years have passed since the end of the war, the impact of the conflict persists in everyday life socially, financially, and psychologically. Visions specifically focuses on strengthening social change in communities affected by poverty, conflict, disability, and gender discrimination in order to create a world where all individuals have access to quality education, are empowered to realize their unique aspirations, and are equipped to make positive contributions to society.
The “Young Leaders Realizing Dreams” program is a 12-month initiative designed to help adolescents from disadvantaged settings, who live amidst the web of socio-economic and psychological complexities in the post-war era make connections, develop their leadership skills, and contribute positively to their communities. This project will empower schools and teachers and provide life skills and leadership development for 1,350 school students between grades 6–9 from 15 underprivileged schools. A vital part of this program is ensuring gender equity and inclusion. Young girls, who don’t often have opportunities to participate and express leaderships, will be included in all the activities and given leadership roles.
The program aims to cultivate the potential of adolescents to build a generation of confident and motivated young leaders.
Stay tuned for more updates on this project! If you’d like to get involved, you can donate here.
Update: July 16th 2025
Visions Global Empowerment has entered the second month of the Young Leaders Realizing Dreams project with strong momentum. With approval from the Provincial Education Department, the program is now active in 14 schools across the Jaffna district, and coordination with local education officials is ongoing.
A central component of the project, leadership and life skills training for teachers, is scheduled to begin in September 2025. In the meantime, 26 teachers are already conducting weekly life skills sessions for students in Grades 6 and 9, guided by three zonal Training Coordinators. So far, 1,332 students are enrolled in the program, with girls making up 38% of participants. To support these sessions, Visions developed 50 comprehensive training modules covering essential topics such as self-awareness, empathy, communication, decision-making, and stress management. After being reviewed and refined by lead trainers, 60 printed manuals were distributed to all participating schools.
Since the start of the project, 215 life skills sessions, totaling nearly 145 hours, have been delivered to 4,103 students aged 11 to 14. Grade 8 recorded the highest number of sessions and instructional time, while Grade 7 saw the greatest student turnout. These sessions are laying a strong foundation for critical life skills and personal development. Early feedback from teachers, students, and parents indicates high levels of engagement and growth. Students are becoming more confident, self-aware, and willing to participate in discussions, many even taking initiative and stepping into leadership roles. To complement classroom learning, a zonal-level exposure visit to cultural and historical sites is planned for July 25, 2025, involving students from all 14 schools.
Leadership development training for students in Grades 6–9 will begin in mid-August. Additionally, at the request of the Northern Province Ministry of Education, Visions conducted a special leadership training for 42 recent school leavers—23 of them being young women preparing to enter university.
Project monitoring is guided by a framework managed by the three Training Coordinators. Progress is tracked through weekly & monthly data collection, and is measured using both quantitative and qualitative indicators. These indicators include self-confidence, leadership growth, gender equity, and behavioral changes. Collaboration remains a cornerstone of this initiative. Visions continues to work closely with the Ministry of Education, local universities, the National College of Education, the NGO Consortium in Jaffna, and the Ratnam Foundation, which supports smart board integration for English and STEM learning in schools. Supporting the project is also a 300-hour academic intern from the University of Jaffna, who is actively assisting in school visits and session facilitation while training to become a future educator.
Together, these efforts are shaping a new generation of confident, capable young leaders equipped with the tools to thrive in school and beyond.
Update: October 27, 2025
Visions Global Empowerment’s Young Leaders Realizing Dreams program is helping students across Northern Sri Lanka develop the confidence, leadership, and life skills they need to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Working in partnership with the Provincial Education Department and 14 schools throughout Jaffna District, the program has already reached more than 1,300 students through weekly life skills education led by 26 trained teachers. At the same time, the organization has developed 70 age-appropriate life skills modules covering topics such as self-awareness, communication, empathy, decision-making, problem-solving, stress management, and leadership, creating a sustainable resource that schools will continue using for years to come.
The program emphasizes experiential learning alongside classroom instruction. Students have participated in hundreds of life skills sessions designed to strengthen communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and emotional resilience while encouraging creativity and civic engagement. A district-wide Creative Skills Exhibition gave students the opportunity to showcase innovative projects and build confidence by presenting their work to teachers, peers, and community members. Educational exposure visits to cultural and historical landmarks, the University of Jaffna, and Jaffna International Airport further inspired students to broaden their aspirations and connect classroom learning with real-world experiences.
Leadership development has become another defining feature of the initiative. Specialized training programs have reached 118 participants, including student leaders, school prefects, and recent graduates preparing to enter university. The results have been remarkable: pre- and post-training assessments showed overall leadership competencies increasing from 37 percent before training to 90 percent afterward, with significant gains in self-confidence, communication, teamwork, empathy, and initiative. Teachers and school leaders have also reported noticeable improvements in student discipline, participation, creativity, and decision-making as life skills education becomes an integral part of school life.
The success of the program reflects the strength of collaboration between Visions Global Empowerment, government education authorities, universities, local schools, and community partners. Despite scheduling adjustments caused by changes to the academic calendar, the project has maintained strong momentum through ongoing mentoring and close coordination with participating schools. Looking ahead, Visions aims to continue strengthening life skills education while expanding leadership opportunities that empower young people to become confident learners, engaged citizens, and positive leaders within their schools and communities.
Final Update: July 16, 2026
Over the past year, Visions Global Empowerment Sri Lanka’s Young Leaders Realizing Dreams project has helped transform how students across Jaffna District learn about leadership, communication, decision-making, and personal development. From June 2025 through June 2026, the initiative reached 1,432 students across 16 schools, creating opportunities for young people to develop skills that extend far beyond the traditional classroom. With support from AllPeopleBeHappy, Visions also invested in teachers and educational resources, training and mentoring 26 educators and developing comprehensive manuals that will allow life skills education to continue long after the project’s completion.
Throughout the project, teachers delivered an impressive 627 life skills sessions totaling 417 hours of instruction, with more than 11,500 student participations recorded across the year. Lessons focused on essential skills such as self-awareness, empathy, communication, critical and creative thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, and managing emotions and stress. Learning also extended beyond the classroom. More than 600 students participated in exposure visits that introduced them to places such as the University of Jaffna and Jaffna International Airport, helping students connect their education with future academic and professional possibilities. Another 190 students participated in intensive leadership development trainings designed to prepare them to serve as positive role models within their schools.
The results demonstrate just how powerful these experiences have been. Assessments of the leadership trainings showed participants’ overall leadership competency increasing from 37% before training to 90% afterward, with teamwork reaching 94% and significant improvements recorded in communication, empathy, self-confidence, and self-awareness. Broader monitoring also found that 75–85% of participating students demonstrated improved self-awareness and confidence, more than 80% increased their participation in group activities, and students showed meaningful improvements in emotional regulation, critical thinking, empathy, and leadership. Teachers reported that students were becoming more willing to express themselves, take initiative, resolve conflicts, recognize their own talents, and consider the experiences and feelings of others.
While the formal project has concluded, its impact is designed to continue for years to come. The 26 trained teachers and trainers now have the skills, confidence, curriculum, and practical resources needed to integrate life skills into everyday classroom learning, while student leaders can continue influencing their peers and school communities. Manuals, weekly sessions, exhibitions, experiential learning, and leadership activities have established a structure that can remain embedded within participating schools and benefit future generations of students. By investing not only in individual young people but also in the educators and systems surrounding them, Young Leaders Realizing Dreams has created a lasting foundation for more confident, compassionate, resilient, and engaged young leaders across Jaffna District.