LYON was formulated to address the need to bring all the youth organizations under one umbrella to mobilize them easily for youth activities. LYON is meant to be a network of youth organizations and currently they enjoy more than 342 main organizations as member and over 5000 small organizations from every corner of the island. The main purpose of LYON is to forward all youth problems to relevant authorities as one voice with the belief that it will greatly help solve youth problems.
In 2006, the Swedish government together with sri lanka foundation (SLF) initiated a democratic youth leadership program (DYLP) to represent organization island wide. On 7th January 2007, many organizations from all over sri lanka were brought together for social activities under the banner Lanka Youth Organization Network (LYON) and subsequently was registered as an NGO on 15th June 2007 and started operating from SLF premises. As LYON got busier, they moved its office away from SLF and went to Maharagama.
Student organization of universities, NGOs, scouting clubs, media organizations, red cross societies, student organization of Sunday dharma school, and various other special interest groups catering the youth were involved to formulate and present LYON. LYON works organizations that work for the betterment of youth as much as with organizations formulated by youth.
The main objective of LYON is to promote greater economic, political and social development opportunities for youth in Sri Lanka. The organization tries to encourage the participation of youth in the decision making process in the country and thereby represents youth aspirations to key decision makers in Sri Lanka. LYON has been involved with the aim of significantly strengthening good governance in the country through the establishment of a youth policy in order to achieve these broader objectives some recent involvements include:
· Regional Policy Dialogue on Youth Policy and the national policy on health of young persons
· Awareness Raising on Gender Based Violence
· Advocacy Programmes on Sexual Reproductive Health
· Increasing Youth Representation in decision making bodies
In this time LYON and other organization as a network demanded to speed up the process of National Youth Policy Draft Committee work and already LYON has conducted more than ten (10) regional consultations to take the suggestions and ideas of rural/disadvantaged groups into the proposed policy.
LYON is also a member of the Asian Youth Network (AYN) which is working on Youth policy and youth development in the Asian Region. For nearly a decade they have working on youth advocacy and lobbying related government agencies in regard to youth policies.
OUR TEAM
Aruna Pradeep
Executive Director
Senior Level business professional with solid theoretical business understanding and a range of practical experience. Motivated achiever with demonstrable ability to recommend enhancements to capacity development in youth personals. Outstanding project manager who coordinates communications, information, and highly skilled professionals to meet technology needs and evaluate progress while assuring smooth, efficient projects and activities. Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communicator who can deliver effective presentations, consultant on capacity development projects, and maintain collaborative relationships.