Catalyst Youth Leadership Program
Strengthening Youth Leadership, Communication, and Personal Growth
APPLYCatalyst Youth Leadership Program
The Catalyst Youth Leadership Program, implemented in partnership with American Corner Batticaloa, is a structured youth development initiative designed to strengthen leadership, communication, and personal growth among young people aged 18–35 in Batticaloa. The program consisted of a series of core sessions that focused on self-confidence, leadership skills, communication, career exploration, emotional resilience, and civic engagement.
Mission
To be a Practice-Based Civic Facilitator Certification Pathway — combining structured learning, community deployment, and measurable civic impact.
Vision
To combine Leadership & Facilitation, Community Engagement, and Accountability & Evaluation in order to boost Youth Civic Involvement.
Program Phases
Phase 1
3 Month Program • 20 Youth Participants •
Duration: 3 Months
The Catalyst Youth Leadership Program (Phase 1) was successfully implemented over a three-month period from November 2025 to February 2026. The program was completed as planned, following all approved activities and objectives.
The program began with an orientation session and continued with a structured series of six core sessions. These sessions were designed to strengthen participants’ self-confidence, personal voice, and key leadership qualities through practical learning and real-life examples.
Program Session Topics
The six sessions included the following themes:
Discovering the Leadership Within
Building Confidence and Personal Vision
The Art of Communication, Speaking, and Purposeful Influence
Empowered Leadership and Career Pathways
Be the Change: Civic Engagement and Leadership for Impact
Using Stories to Understand the Future
Impact
5 Community Based Activities • 219 Indirect Beneficiaries
Program Sessions
Adaptive Learning
Understand participatory leadership principle, explore leadership in community settings, and build facilitator identity and confidence
Facilitation Techniques
Learn facilitation methodologies, practice group engagement techniques, understand participatory learning approaches
Civic Dialogue Methods (US vs Exchange)
Understand civic dialogue and democratic participation, learn dialogue moderation techniques, engage with U.S.-based civic perspectives
Session Design & Delivery
Design structured facilitation sessions, learn session planning methods, practice facilitation sequencing
Community Organizing
Understand grassroots engagement, learn outreach and mobilization strategies, explore civic participation systems
Monitoring & Evaluation Tools
Learn documentation methods, understand monitoring systems, explore impact measurement approaches
Ethical Leadership & Accountability
Explore ethical facilitation principles, understand accountability systems, practice responsible leadership approaches
Responsible Use of AI & Digital Tools
Understand ethical digital engagement, learn responsible AI usage, explore digital facilitation tools
Target Audience
Youth in Batticaloa
Young people aged 18–35.
Our Objectives
To develop leadership, communication, and public speaking skills among youth.
To support career exploration, personal growth, and emotional resilience.
To encourage civic engagement and active community participation.
Municipal Council - Batticaloa
Community Based Activities - IDM Eastern Campus
NAITA Apprenticeship Training Centre, Eravur
Batticaloa Community House - Leadership for Children
Our Partners
American Corner Battialoa