Representatives from five Chapters of Transparency International (TI) met in Negombo recently for the regional launch of TI’s Youth Integrity Project (YIP) at a simple ceremony followed by a two-day workshop.
The Project aims to promote integrity in young people, and enable and inspire them to fight corruption. In addition, as the general public awareness of corruption issues increases, so do expectations for accountability.
Representatives from TI chapters in Fiji, Indonesia, Korea, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, and the Centre for Development Studies in Vietnam were present. Country representative from the World Bank and National Youth Services Council (NYSC) officials also attended the ceremony.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Diarietou Gaye, World Bank Country Director said that the World Bank is involved in youth development projects in Sri Lanka and will be willing to extend their support to TISL for the Youth Integrity Project.
Rashithe Delapola, International Affairs Coordinator –NYSC extended the Council’s support to the project.
The two-day workshop was held to plan out the first stage of the Youth Survey, which is the first stage of the Youth Integrity Program. The Survey measures the attitudes and experiences of young people towards integrity and corruption.
This will be the first time such a survey would be carried out in Sri Lanka.
The workshop was conducted by TI Secretariat’s Anna Thayenthal, Programme Coordinator, Asia Pacific Department.