Educating Sri Lankan Youth to be Catalysts in Social System Change: The
Need for Empowerment with a Democratic Ethos

Dr. Mahim Mendis

doi:10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i10.014

Title: Educating Sri Lankan Youth to be Catalysts in Social System Change: The Need for Empowerment with a Democratic Ethos
Authors: Dr. Mahim Mendis
Journal: International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research (IJSSER) ISSN: 2455-8834 Volume: 10 Issue: 10 Publication Date: October 2025 DOI: 10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i10.014
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Dr. Mahim Mendis Senior Lecturer in Mass Communication, Department of Social Studies, Open University of Sri Lanka
MLA 8 Mendis, Dr. Mahim. "Educating Sri Lankan Youth to be Catalysts in Social System Change: The Need for Empowerment with a Democratic Ethos." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 10, no. 10, Oct. 2025, pp. 4785-4802, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i10.014. Accessed Oct. 2025. APA 6 Mendis, D. (2025, October). Educating Sri Lankan Youth to be Catalysts in Social System Change: The Need for Empowerment with a Democratic Ethos. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 10(10), 4785-4802. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i10.014 Chicago Mendis, Dr. Mahim. "Educating Sri Lankan Youth to be Catalysts in Social System Change: The Need for Empowerment with a Democratic Ethos." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 10, no. 10 (October 2025), 4785-4802. Accessed October, 2025. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i10.014.
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ABSTRACT: This paper examines the critical role of education and tertiary-level training in empowering Sri Lankan youth to serve as catalysts of social system change. Recognizing the transformative potential of young people, the study proposes a multidimensional approach to educational reform that embeds civic education, environmental awareness, and social entrepreneurship into curricula. Such integration is essential for nurturing critical thinking, empathy, and a sense of responsibility toward societal issues. The paper further advocates participatory learning methods that promote practical problem-solving and community service, bridging the divide between theoretical knowledge and lived realities. In doing so, it calls for reimagining education as a holistic process that prepares youth not only for employment but also for democratic engagement, ensuring their role as pivotal drivers of inclusive and sustainable development.

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