Sikander Sabeer: Building a better world, partnering with the youth

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Building a better world, partnering with the youth

International Youth Day

With the goal of “Building a better world, partnering with the youth” V Force [National Volunteer Task Force], under the United Nations Volunteers [UNV] programme and the National Youth Services Council [NYSC], with the guidance and support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development and United Nations in Sri Lanka, celebrated the International Youth Day.

The International Youth Day gives the world an opportunity to recognize the potential of youth, celebrate their achievements and plan for ways to engage young people in creating an enhanced future for all. It presents a unique chance for all stakeholders to rally together to ensure that youth are included in decision making at all levels. Thus each year, since 2000, UN International Youth Day is celebrated worldwide on the 12^th of August.

It was with great joy that over 2500 youth participants gathered at the Independence Square to celebrate International Youth Day in Sri Lanka, on the 12^th of August. This day was seen as an opportunity to empower and support youth in enhancing their abilities to make a better world. The event got underway with a parade which made its way to the independence square, after which the grand affair of commemorating our youth was in full swing.

It was indeed a privilege to have the International Youth day graced by respectable individuals including Hon. Minister of Youth Affairs Mr. Dullas Alahapperuma, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Mr. Subinay Nandy, Country Director UNDP Ms Razina Bilgramy, Programme Officer UNV Mr. Natal Donnaloia, Chairman of the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) Mr. Lalith Piyum Perera, Secretary to Ministry of Youth Affairs Mr. K.A Tilakaratne, Deputy Mayor Mr. Madura Vithanage and Parliamentarian Ms Upeksha Swarnamali. More over it was astounding to have in our midst, Ms. Stephanie Siriwardhana [Miss Sri Lanka 2011/ Global Shaper] and Mr. Saman Ranaweera [Secretary of the Youth Club Federation], who addressed the youth present at the event, motivating and encouraging them to engage in making a difference.

At the International Youth Day, to promote community service, and to create a chance to contribute to society in a positive manner, youth participants pledged their support to volunteer at a community project of their choice. Thus the theme of building a better world partnering with the youth was addressed through this action.

The highlight of the evening was the human mosaic that was formed in the shape of the world map. It was the largest human mosaic formed and was considered a Guinness World Record [awaiting confirmation]. In addition the lighting of the human mosaic signified the positive contribution that these youth had pledged to make. Furthermore it reflected the global theme of “Light up the World”.

In conclusion International Youth Day 2012 was indeed a success. It was celebrated with the hope of creating awareness and empowering youth to make a better world. It was a great pleasure to be a part of key organizer of such an energetic event!

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About Me

Sikander Sabeer is a product of Isipathana College and holding a first class with distinction Bachelors of Science (BSc) degree on Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Microbiology from Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology (Sri Lanka), an outreach campus of University of Mysore (India). Presently reading for his Masters of Science (MSc) on Business Management at National School of Business Management (Sri Lanka), an outreach post-graduate institute of University of Dublin (Ireland).

Sikanders’ development work can be categorized into three avenues, namely community service and community development; youth empowerment and professional development; climate change and sustainable development. Meanwhile his development work is two phased, firstly action oriented, secondly strategic and advocacy. In the action oriented phase, he gets in to the field and implements his ideas. He works very closely with multi-stakeholders such as children, school students, youth, corporates & business firms, UN agencies, non-governmental and government organizations on diversified projects at different levels and on different capacities. With his strong grass-root level initiatives and experience, he invests equal time on advocacy, mentorship and youth policy framework, which is a unique, and a strategic bottom up approach.

Sikanders’ voluntary action oriented initiatives and his strategic thinking has given him numerous opportunities to be a guest speaker and youth facilitator; to share his experiences, best practices to motivate and inspire youth at number of National and International youth conferences. He has represented his country and fellow youth (1/4th of Sri Lankan population) at high profile youth conferences and high level UN summits/conferences, at some of the UN meetings I have served as an ‘Official Youth Delegate’ of the National Delegation team headed by HE president. Half of the world’s population is made up of young people and as a youth representative and a major stakeholder he had made several interventions on behalf of Global Youth and Sri Lankan youth at some of the UN conferences.

He has held several key positions in organizing several national and international events/programmes and he is one of the co-creators of the YOUTH is the word –Guinness World Record, where 1500 Sri Lankan youth stood to gather to form the largest human mosaic in the world.

His local, national and international initiatives on youth led community development, Climate Change; youth empowerment and youth advocacy led him to earn the most prestigious “Commonwealth Youth Awards (CYA)” for Excellence in Development Work (2012), The CYA’s celebrate and recognize extraordinary young people among one billion audiences from 54 member states of Commonwealth who are making a positive difference to the lives of others through development initiatives ranging from poverty alleviation to education and protection of the environment. This is awarded by Commonwealth Secretariat (CYP) headed by HM Queen Elizabeth II. He earned the "Global Changemaker" title of British Council Youth Empowerment Programme on 2010 for outstanding contribution for Voluntary Activities. He serves as a Youth Ambassadorial role for climate change and serves as a Youth Facilitator for climate sustainability under British Council International Climate Champion program. Apart from these major recognitions his team earned U.S. Department of States Federal Assistant Award Grant for “Green the Home” project and Global Changemakers Community Action Project (CAP) and Regional Action Project (RAP) grants for Youth Empowerment Initiatives.

Presently Sikander is serving as an Assistant Manager for Business Development and Project Officer for recycling solutions for Neptune Recyclers (Neptune Papers [Pvt.] Ltd) in Sri Lanka, a member of multinational corporate Expolanka Holdings PLC. He works very closely with multi- stakeholders, especially with school students, Industries and Corporates on recycling solutions which create an additional income from the trash while minimizing the environmental pollution.

"Do as much as voluntary activities, because volunteers Inspire in Action, they make a real change in their community, they talk less and work a lot, but never expect any personal benefits from their action, Indeed one day they will earn the rewards, that’s confirmed; Install this in your mind “I will do the best I can”

-Sikander Sabeer-