November 12, Colombo (LNW): Abby Finkenauer, the United States State Department’s Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues, is set to visit Sri Lanka from November 12 to 15, 2024.
This visit underscores the US commitment to empowering youth across South Asia, with a particular focus on fostering civic engagement, enhancing youth leadership, and addressing critical issues like cultural preservation and community resilience.
During her visit, Finkenauer will experience firsthand the positive effects of the US-Sri Lanka partnership, especially through programmes that support education, leadership, and community engagement.
These initiatives are designed to empower young leaders and drive social and economic development in Sri Lanka.
Accompanied by US Ambassador Julie Chung, Finkenauer will meet with participants from the Embassy’s Youth Forum and alumni from the Emerging Leaders Academy, a USAID-backed programme aimed at promoting civic engagement and leadership skills, particularly amongst underrepresented groups.
The programme offers a platform for young people to develop leadership capabilities and contribute actively to their communities.
The Special Envoy will also engage with the Women in Motion initiative, a US Embassy-supported project that encourages young women to explore careers in creative industries.
Additionally, Finkenauer will visit young entrepreneurs whose success stories highlight the effectiveness of US-supported skills-building programmes in fostering innovation and business growth amongst the youth.
Through this visit, Finkenauer aims to strengthen relationships with youth leaders in Sri Lanka and across South Asia.
She will seek to deepen collaborative efforts on global issues affecting young people, from leadership development to the challenges of navigating an ever-evolving cultural and economic landscape.
