Technical paper
The potential role of young leaders and volunteers in preventing violent extremism in Sri Lanka
Youth and Volunteering
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- This study introduces the potential role of young leaders and volunteers in preventing violent extremism in Sri Lanka.
- The methodology was based on a three-layered data collection approach, including an extensive field survey covering 2,800 young people 15–29 years of age in the northern, eastern, southern and central provinces of the country.
Summary
The survey found that young people tend to have a fairly good understanding of the concepts of discrimination and violent extremism. It also found that they perceive volunteering as an avenue to participate in efforts to prevent violent extremism and build peaceful communities. However, the study noted that youth participation in civic spaces through volunteering remains low. The barriers for youth participation include lack of capacity and lack of recognition of their role in peacebuilding by policymakers and social leaders.
The study provides recommendations for government stakeholders on actionable processes to engage young leaders in preventing violent extremism and to support youth-led initiatives.
