The 40th Anniversary RYS Project

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August 7 to 13, 2026

Kalutara District, Sri Lanka

To address global polarization and rising social fragmentation, the 2026 RYS Sri Lanka project was organized around the timely theme: "Restoring Trust: What Can be Done for Peace Now?" Grounded in the foundational vision of RYS (established in 1986) that we are "One Global Family" under God, the project celebrated its milestone 40th Anniversary by demonstrating the transformative power of "Living for the Sake of Others."

Aligning with the United Nations International Youth Day (IYD) 2026 theme, "Different Contexts, Common Aspirations," this program addressed the developmental and clean water needs of rural communities while fostering interreligious trust among diverse youth. Sri Lanka has maintained an unbroken annual service legacy since organizing its first regional project in 1991, continuing through the civil war and past crises. The 2026 project built on this rich legacy by uniting local and international youth to deliver a sustainable water infrastructure, proving that manual service is a powerful vehicle for interfaith reconciliation.

The project followed the official three-stage experiential model: Orientation, Work Service, and Reflection.

1. Orientation and Education: The journey began with interactive sessions led by Mrs. Fazida Abdul Razak and Mrs. Dinesha Liyanasuriya to establish the RYS norms. To support team cooperation, Mrs. Angilay Davy administered a DISC psychometric assessment, enabling participants to understand their diverse personality profiles and work together effectively. Theoretical foundations were established through Mrs. Ursula McLackland's lectures: "Principles of True Love" (focusing on complementarity, self-regulation, and universal family ethics) and "Spiritual Values as the Foundation for Good Leadership" (introducing selfless service). Fazida facilitated the session "Organising My First RYS" to equip participants with the project design skills needed to launch local peace projects in their home countries.

2. Work Service Period: The centerpiece was an intensive Village Water Restoration project at the Matugama Rubber Estate in Kalutara, serving 101 rural families (291 individuals). Working in high spirits, the cohort dug trenches for laying clean water pipelines, painted the community pump house and the local well. This manual service translated spiritual ideals of interfaith love into practical, community-building actions.

3. Interfaith Pilgrimage and Recreation: Relational trust was deepened through an interfaith pilgrimage to local places of worship, including a Buddhist temple, the Welithara Jummah Masjid, and the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church. Recreation included waterfall bathing, visiting Hiriketiya beach, and visiting a sea turtle hatchery to connect the ethic of service with ecological conservation. Cultural Night allowed participants to share their national heritage and faiths through song, prayer, and dance.

4. UN International Youth Day Celebration: On August 12, 2026, the cohort hosted the official United Nations IYD celebration. The keynote address was delivered by the Chief Guest, the Honorable Maithripala Sirisena (the 7th President of Sri Lanka), who spent over two hours with the youth. He listened to their service testimonies and took photos with participants and staff volunteer, leaving a lasting impression of humility and down-to-earth leadership. Ms. Ursula McLackland, President of UPF Asia-Pacific, spoke on the deep, historic relationship and support the former President has consistently given UPF initiatives.

5. Gathering the Harvest and Moving Reflections: The project concluded with structured reflective exercises: the "magic light stick" circles (facilitating quiet, deep emotional sharing), the Post-it Appreciation Gallery (focusing on the Strengths I See in Others mindset), and writing personal "Commitment Letters" to apply their learnings back home. The closing featured a moving ceremony where participants pinned mementos and expressed well-wishes to a chosen peer. The program culminated in a magnificent beach campfire, where youth shared moving testimonies and performed musical pieces.

Feedback from the 34 active participants was overwhelmingly positive. They reported a powerful sense of community and personal growth. Local youth prefects shared that the project broke through cultural boundaries, while international delegates praised the down-to-earth humility of the former President during his two-hour engagement. For many, the quiet silence of the Post-it appreciation wall and the magic light stick circles built invisible pipelines of trust that complemented the physical water pipeline they built for local families.

The project consolidated strong institutional partnerships with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the National Youth Services Council (NYSC), GYSF, and RYS Global. RYS graduates were actively encouraged to return home, design local interreligious service projects, and report back to the committee. Outstanding local initiatives will receive funding and be showcased regionally, creating a powerful ripple effect of peace leadership.

We express our deepest appreciation to Dr. Chula Senaratne, Secretary General of UPF-Sri Lanka, and his dedicated team for tirelessly coordinating stakeholders and ensuring the success of this project, as well as our generous sponsors and partners. Long after the water flows from the taps of Kalutara, the trust restored on this project will continue to ripple across the globe, inspiring the youth to live for the sake of others.

By Alvin Pang, RYS Global

August 13, 2026