Project Duration: January 2025 – December 2025 Project Location: Kalutara District, Sri Lanka (Divisional Secretariat Divisions: Beruwala, Kalutara, Bandaragama, Panadura, Agalawatta, Mathugama, Palindanuwara, Dodangoda)

Project Description: This one-year project builds on the foundation laid by BRAVE – Phase 01, with a renewed focus on economic empowerment as a tool to counter violent extremism. It aims to strengthen resilience among youth through sustainable entrepreneurship and livelihood development, targeting youth from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds in eight divisional secretariats in the Kalutara District. The project will empower 24 youth aged 18–35 by enhancing their self-employment capacities and supporting small-scale entrepreneurial ventures. Core activities include: • Capacity-building workshops on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digital marketing • Business planning and mentoring sessions • Micro-grant support for youth-led business start-ups • Youth economic forums and networking events • Awareness campaigns on economic opportunities and inclusive development Through these targeted interventions, the project aims to strengthen youth agency, foster inter-community collaboration, and build economic resilience in conflict-sensitive areas. The initiative will also serve as a platform to engage local government officials, private sector actors, and community stakeholders in supporting youth-led solutions to economic marginalization. The outcomes of the project will inform policy-level recommendations to promote inclusive economic growth and sustainable peace in the region. By linking economic empowerment with peacebuilding, BRAVE – Phase 02 seeks to cultivate a new generation of youth leaders who are equipped to drive positive change and counter the root causes of violent extremism in their communities.