On the eve of International Youth Day, the International Services Avenue of the Rotaract Club of the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, organized the project “Youth Forward” which was an enriching virtual session held via Google Meet, which placed youth voices at the center of civic engagement. Moderating this session was truly an honor and a profound privilege, especially speaking to our distinguished guest speaker, Ms. Chiranthi Senanayake. Ms. Senanayake , being an Attorney-at-Law, lecturer in International Human Rights Law and Public International Law, and development researcher, brought candid ground truths and actionable foresight to every topic we explored.
The discussion opened by critically rethinking what genuine youth representation looks like. Ms. Senanayake pointed out that young people must not merely be invited to fill seats, true empowerment requires conscious, structured stakeholder involvement that allows youth to actively participate in democratic processes. She warned against blind idealism when looking outward, noting for an example, that even celebrated governance models in Scandinavian countries are often overrated, with nations like Norway facing significant issues such as high rates of unreported domestic violence cases. Turning to the pressing challenge of youth migration, Ms. Senanayake highlighted that instead of passively looking outwards exploring the chances of migration, youth should actively identify opportunities within their own motherland.
Delving into youth incubation, she addressed the politicization of conventional youth structures, citing rural youth are frequently left with fewer opportunities than what political gatekeepers dictate. She underscored the necessity of true youth incubation through independent research, open dialogue, multi-stakeholder connection, and direct partnerships with the non-state development sector.
When navigating modern activism, our guest speaker cautioned against falling into the comfortable rhythm of “couch activism” or armchair commentary. Rather than getting trapped in digital echo chambers or addressing selective issues while overlooking nuanced realities (such as underreported male victims of sexual violence), changemakers must actively immerse themselves into the communities they care about, and envision tangible projects where they have real direct impact . In addition, bridging the generational gap requires stepping away from rigid neo-liberal paradigms, constantly bringing generations together, and honoring both organic cultural realities and local indigenous knowledge.
Recognizing that driving social change can take a heavy toll, Ms. Senanayake concluded by addressing mental health and activist burnout. She identified constant digital overstimulation, anxiety, and depression as serious harms that must be actively countered by reinvesting in personal spirituality, mindfulness, and healthy boundaries. Following a lively Q&A session where participants engaged in-depth with our speaker, the evening concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Rtr. Sanugi de Silva, Co-Director of International Services, bringing to a close an unforgettable evening of clarity, purpose, and direction for every aspiring leader.
Penned by: Varshana Mahawithana
Rotaract Club of Faculty of Law University of Colombo 