SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka (SOSCV SL) has announced the relaunch of its transformative movement YouthCan! which focuses on employability and skills development, on December 7th, 2023 at the Ramada Hotel in Colombo, empowering youth and creating a brighter future for them.

The chief guest for the relaunch event was Roshan Mahanama, who is a Brand Ambassador for SOSCV SL.

YouthCan! is a global partnership established in 2017 by SOS Children’s Villages and private sector partners, with a mission to empower young people to transition successfully from school to work and independent life. The beneficiaries of YouthCan! are young people aged 14 and upwards who are seeking guidance, support, and training to enhance their employability and life skills.

The programme's central mission is to support young people in various facets, focussing on empowerment through interventions including employability, skill development, personal growth, mentoring and vocational training support, with a special emphasis on those who lack adequate parental care.

Throughout the years, the main corporate collaborators, Akzonobel and DHL, have played an important role in making the initiative a success. Their dedicated involvement has forged impactful activities, including painting and infrastructure development projects, leadership and motivation programmes, career guidance, employee engagement programmes, and exposure visits, etc.

The YouthCan! relaunch comes at a critical juncture amidst economic challenges, reaffirming the programme’s commitment to uplift vulnerable youth driven by three critical needs; to provide timely skilling interventions amidst global economic crises impacting youth employment, to expand the partner ecosystem which is passionate about uplifting vulnerable youth, and to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration networks focused on empowering young people.

The programme aims to bring more partners on board, showcasing evidence of impact, and fostering new connections. SOSCV SL seeks to engage more partners to nurture young people’s journeys towards employment and self-sufficiency. In addition, the relaunch intends to galvanize nationwide action to equip youth with employability competencies and personalized mentoring support.

“We are proud of YouthCan! achievements in empowering young people through vital skill development and growth opportunities. As we relaunch the programme, we want to spotlight the tremendous positive change it continues to drive and invite more organizations to join our mission. The 2023 relaunch of YouthCan! will bring exciting new developments and initiatives to the forefront as we aspire to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people and create a brighter future for them.” said Divakar Ratnadurai, National Director of SOS Children's Villages Sri Lanka.

SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka provides family-based care for children, who have lost parental care and are at risk of losing parental care, in 8 locations island-wide through 172 family homes. For more information, visit www.soschildrensvillages.lk.

Image Caption - SOS Children's Villages Sri Lanka relaunches YouthCan