12,000 Volunteers For The SDGs: How The Road to Rights Empowers Youth in Sri Lanka
By uniting Sri Lanka’s war-affected youth, marginalized communities, and youth from facilitated communities, the 2018 UN SDG Action Award winner, The Road to Rights, takes a human rights-based approach to promoting the SDGs.
The Road to Rights, a youth-led initiative from Sri Lanka, aims to change the destiny of young people in the South Asian country. The organization specializes in social innovation and justice and follows a human rights-based approach, which is not only a guiding principle but also the cornerstone of its work.
With a network of 12,000 volunteers across Sri Lanka and 22 national Chapters worldwide, the 2018 UN SDG Action Awards winner also established the G17 University Ambassadors consortium, involving 2,000 undergraduates from 74 universities promoting the SDGs, as well as Our Road to Rights Celebrity Ambassadors programme engaging influencers to further localize the SDGs in Sri Lanka.
As a social innovation professional, human rights advocate, and strategist, Ashan Perera is an SDG rockstar, paving the way on numerous initiatives. He founded The Road to Rights and the G17 University Ambassadors Consortium. He played a critical role in shaping the SDGs during the MY WORLD global survey for the United Nations. And he has served as a member of the Senate in the National Youth Parliament, represented Sri Lanka at the international level, and is currently a regional advisor for South Asia in the Climate Action Champions Network.
“I strive to leave a smaller footprint through mindful choices,” Mr. Perera recently told the UN SDG Action Campaign. “Climate Action is a collective endeavor, and we actively advocate for intergenerational and intersectoral engagement as an imperative move.”
We spoke with Ashan Perera about how The Road to Rights unites volunteers to act for SDGs and how the power of youth is leading transformation in meaningful ways:
Building a sustainable future for all means taking action today and flipping the current global narrative on everything from climate change and gender inequality to food insecurity. Zooming in on one priority, what challenge speaks to you the most and how are you and your organization uniting to act for the SDGs?
Amidst the myriad challenges demanding our attention, climate change stands out as the most urgent concern for me. Climate change is not only just a threat to the environment but also one of the biggest threats to communities around the world. Climate Change violates the full enjoyment of human rights including health, overall food system, access to clean water as well as the entire social and economic development process.
Both personally and as a part of my organization “The Road to Rights’’, we are dedicated to SDG-aligned actions that focus on collaborative efforts and developing competencies. As a result, we have established one of the largest undergraduate networks for SDGs, the “G17 University Ambassadors Consortium ‘’ bringing together 74 universities across the globe to lead solutions. We are fueling individual transformation bringing the best potential of young people to act and shape the future of work.
On a personal level, I strive to leave a smaller footprint through mindful choices. Climate Action is a collective endeavor, and we actively advocate for intergenerational and intersectoral engagement as an imperative move.
This year marks the half-way point to Agenda 2030 and yet indicators show that progress on the SDGs is lagging. Only about 12% of the Goals are currently on track while close to 50% are moderately or severely off track. What do you want to see happen right now in your sector that can contribute to inverting this negative trend and putting us back on the right path?
Without a question urgent action is urgently important today when nearly half of the goals are off track. It is a must to harness the power of youth in a meaningful way to lead the transformation. It is high time to accelerate the stronger collaboration between governments, industries, and communities. This entails implementing innovative solutions, embracing sustainable practices, and prioritizing education to drive positive change.
The only way to accelerate progress of achieving SDGs is to change the way we lead our industries and governments. That has to be strengthened by bringing the energy and creative ideas of young people into the decision making and leadership processes.
That is why we as a youth-led organization believe that we must use the potential of the university system, young professional platforms and youth groups to accelerate the progress of implementing SDGs. It would also lead us to an intergenerational collaboration to address the challenges we are facing today.
Despite some discouraging news on SDG progress, we are nonetheless hopeful that, when united for action, we can affect positive change. And we know this just by looking at the thousands of application submissions we receive each year for our UN SDG Action Awards, which celebrate mobilizers, inspirers, and changemakers. Which individual or initiative inspires you to take action and continue to work towards a better future for all?
As a matter of fact, the climate crisis has become a major issue that is directly impacting both people and the planet, and with the development of megacities and urbanization, forests are being massively destroyed as well. On the other hand, it is certainly inspiring to witness that many champions are taking actions in order to help mitigate climate issues.
Taking factors such as mitigating climate change, preserving biodiversity, protecting human health, food security, long-term sustainability and international cooperation into account, what inspires me the most is the initiative ‘Green Obsession’. Even though rooftop gardens and community gardens exist, it is motivating to see how the vision of this initiative can impact on a large scale with the potential of implementing it at any vertical building around the world creatively. It also incorporates both urban and forestry concepts which will have a long lasting impact. Therefore, I believe that the Green Obsession initiative inspires me to do more long lasting impactful actions for the people and planet.
Innovation is key to ensuring that our sustainable future is also inclusive. What are the novel trends and opportunities that you think will be game-changing for SDG action?
In today’s world, we are more interconnected than ever, thanks to technological advancements and innovative platforms. This connectivity has brought people together from all corners of the globe, transcending social, economic, and cultural barriers and uniting them around shared purposes and goals.
At our organization, we encourage innovation and creativity to help achieve the SDGs on a global scale. We recognize that digitalization plays a vital role in various sectors like education, finance, health, and agriculture. By utilizing technology, professionals can work sustainably in their respective fields and put the SDGs into action.
We believe that promoting social entrepreneurship is a great way to achieve the SDGs, as social entrepreneurs prioritize on putting social good before profits. They can also play a significant role in mobilizing resources, bringing innovative solutions to local challenges and advocating for policy change in the long run.
It is important to consider the long-term impact of our actions. Investing in initiatives such as inclusive youth engagement, technology for good, and educational platforms can greatly contribute to addressing pressing challenges. This can benefit the environment, alleviate poverty in vulnerable communities, and promote skills and economic growth.
For many, the quest for an equitable and sustainable future starts from within. What has been a key turning point in your life? What have you learned from this that gives you hope for the current turning point we find ourselves in?
In my journey, the creation of the Road to Rights movement marked a pivotal turning point. Through the Road to Rights, we were able to bring together young people from all walks of life including those affected by war, those from marginalized communities across the country and youth from facilitated communities. This initiative provided me with meaningful avenues to unite young people and contribute to both people and the planet.
A particularly impactful facet emerged in the form of the G17 University Ambassadors Consortium, an endeavor that enabled me to collaborate with inspiring young undergraduates, the very stewards of our future. Witnessing their unwavering commitment, innovative thinking, and determination to effect change in various industries fills me with hope for our future.
This experience has taught me that empowering young people with the necessary resources and opportunities is crucial. Their fresh perspectives and dynamic solutions have the potential to reshape the trajectory of our world.
As we navigate the current turning point, I draw hope from the dedication and creativity exhibited by these young individuals. Investing in their endeavors and providing them with the space to thrive is paramount to realizing a more equitable and sustainable future.
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