Lakshitha Saji Prelis

Director, Children & Youth Programs

For over 20 years, Saji Prelis has worked with youth, youth movements, and youth focused organizations in various conflict and transition environments, particularly in East and West Africa, and Central, South, and Southeast Asia. Since 2011, he has served as our Director for Children & Youth Programs.

Additionally, Saji co-founded and co-chairs the first UN-CSO-Donor working group on Youth Participation in Peacebuilding, which played a major role in successfully advocating for the historic UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security.

Saji has served as an adviser to governments and governmental agencies in many countries including Nepal, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Haiti and Uganda. His work includes developing training programs, drafting policy frameworks, and designing community participation programs. He has also served as advisory to the Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Ministers on youth and peacebuilding. He is often a speaker and moderator at many international fora on the topic of engaging youth as partners to prevent violent extremism and peacebuilding.

Saji obtained his Master's Degree in International Peace & Conflict Resolution with a Concentration in International Law from the School of International Service at American University.