The Kectil Program

🎙️ New Kectil Youth Podcast Episode!

What does it mean to grow up in the midst of conflict?
In our latest episode, Nabila Abbas speaks with Salif Sanou from Burkina Faso about the realities of living through years of insecurity and violence, and how these experiences have shaped the lives, education, and aspirations of young people.

Salif shares his inspiring personal journey—from overcoming challenges in a country affected by conflict to pursuing English education in a French-speaking environment. He also discusses his vision of creating a youth-centered English learning space that empowers young people with skills, resilience, and new opportunities.

This conversation reminds us that behind every conflict are human stories of hope, leadership, and determination.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2155872/episodes/19522577

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🌿 Insights from Lenaa – Part 2 – The World Around Women: Feminism, Power, Culture & Human Rights

In Part 2 of our Kectil Podcast conversation, acclaimed actor, author, and thought leader Lenaa Kumar returns to continue a powerful dialogue inspired by her upcoming book Women-o-pause.

Hosted by Ashwathy Venugopal, this episode moves beyond biology into deeper conversations on feminism, patriarchy, bodily autonomy, intergenerational trauma, workplace systems, masculinity, and the emotional health of our societies.

As technology advances faster than our emotional growth, this conversation invites us to reflect on what it truly means to build a more compassionate, humane, and conscious future—for both women and men.

Whether you are interested in gender, leadership, human rights, or simply understanding the world around you with greater empathy, this episode offers thought-provoking perspectives that resonate across generations.

🎙 Hosted by Ashwathy Venugopal
🔗 Listen on Buzzsprout: https://lnkd.in/dvCg6YyD

🔗 Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/duZrXBSs
Women-o-pause is now releasing worldwide, with early copies available on Amazon.

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🌍✍️ KECTIL Alumni Essay Competition 2026 is now open!

This year’s theme:

Youth Leadership for Global Impact
Driving Change through Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Multicultural and Multidisciplinary Communities.

Young leaders around the world are creating solutions, building bridges across cultures, and transforming communities through innovation and collaboration. This competition is an opportunity for KECTIL alumni to share their experiences, ideas, and vision for positive change.

Participants may explore topics related to:
💡 Innovation and Entrepreneurship
🧠 Mental Health Solutions
🌏 Cross-Cultural Understanding and Diversity

🏆 Prizes:
🥇 1st Place – $300
🥈 2nd Place – $200
🥉 3rd Place – $100

📅 Submission Deadline: 31 July 2026
📢 Winners Announcement: 5 September 2026

Share your story. Inspire change. Create impact.

🔗 Submission link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfV7Rw7pgkZ0UYicelQks3sanHyit82UFK9R6IkKtnQ9qraIg/viewform?usp=publish-editor

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We are incredibly proud to celebrate a remarkable achievement by our Kectil Program Global Board Member, Mathias Charles Yabe. Mathias Charles Yabe | Entrepreneur + Impact + Travel

Mathias has been honored with the 2026 Youth Entrepreneurship Award at the prestigious OPEC Fund for International Development Annual Award for Development. The award recognizes outstanding young innovators creating transformative solutions for sustainable development around the world.

As the Founder and CEO of AkoFresh, AkoFresh ™️ Mathias is leading an innovative initiative that helps rural farmers reduce post-harvest losses through solar-powered cold storage, refrigerated transport, farmer training, and market access. His work is improving food security, strengthening climate resilience, and increasing incomes for farming communities.

Accepting the award, Mathias shared an inspiring message:

“To every young person with a dream that feels too big, too difficult or too early: keep going. The world needs your ideas, your energy and your determination.”

At Kectil, we have had the privilege of witnessing Mathias’s dedication to empowering young leaders and advancing sustainable development firsthand. His recognition reflects not only his visionary leadership but also the impact that young innovators can have when they are equipped with the right opportunities and determination.

Congratulations, Mathias, on this well-deserved international recognition! Your achievement inspires the entire Kectil community and reinforces our shared commitment to building a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future.

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🌿 Insights from Lenaa - Part 1 - Women-o-pause: The Woman, The Body & The Inner Transformation

In our latest Kectil Podcast episode, we are joined by Lenaa Kumar, acclaimed actor, author, and thought leader, who has, over the past three years, become a deeply influential voice within the global Kectil community.

In this first part of our two-part conversation with host Ashwathy Venugopal, Lenaa speaks about her upcoming book Women-o-pause — a deeply reflective exploration of peri-menopause, menopause, womanhood, emotional transformation, identity, aging, masculinity, compassion, and the wisdom hidden within change.

This is a deeply human conversation that goes beyond gender and age, offering insights into transitions that shape all of us. It is especially relevant for young people learning to better understand themselves, others, and the complexity of human experience.

🎙 Hosted by Ashwathy Venugopal
🔗 Listen on Buzzsprout: https://lnkd.in/gXTW2Ysy
🔗 Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gUSXvjv4

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🥳 We had an amazing discussion during our recent webinar on conflict and peacebuilding, bringing together participants from diverse regions and backgrounds.

We were honored to be joined by our speaker, Könül De Moor, a peacebuilding practitioner and programme and peacebuilding officer at Conciliation Resources. Her insights helped ground the discussion in both practical experience and broader strategic reflections. 🕊️

The session featured deeply thoughtful questions from all corners of the world, reflecting a shared commitment to understanding today’s complex challenges and exploring pathways toward more sustainable peace.

A key part of the discussion highlighted the important role of youth in peacebuilding—bringing fresh perspectives, energy, and a strong sense of responsibility for shaping more inclusive and resilient societies.

We are grateful for the meaningful exchange of ideas, which greatly enriched the conversation and underscored the importance of inclusive dialogue, intergenerational engagement, and continued collaboration.

Thank you to everyone who joined and contributed to making the discussion so impactful. 🩵

🇱🇧 Lebanon Unfiltered: Youth Voices from the Edge of Conflict

In our latest Kectil Podcast episode, we speak with Christelle Barakat, youth leader and Kectil Global Board Member from Lebanon, as she shares what it truly means to grow up amid conflict, instability, and economic crisis.

From navigating fear and uncertainty to reflecting on identity, resilience, and what she describes as “negative peace,” Christelle offers a deeply personal and honest perspective on the realities many young people in Lebanon face today.
Through powerful stories and reflections, this episode goes beyond headlines to highlight the strength of a generation that continues to lead, hope, and persevere despite ongoing challenges.

🎙 Hosted by Ashwathy Venugopal
🔗 Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2155872/episodes/19103651

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