Building Bridges: Youth Empowerment Programme

4 July 2026 | Punalur Social Service Society (PSSS), Punalur

Connecting Young People Through Dialogue, Storytelling and Global Perspectives

The Building Bridges Youth Empowerment Programme brought together 26 students from DB Tech for a day of interactive learning, reflection, dialogue and personal development. Facilitated by Samira Fatima Barucija, Jigyasa Gulati and Sarah Oliver, the programme created a space for young people to strengthen their communication skills, build confidence and engage meaningfully with diverse cultures and lived experiences.

A Day of Learning and Connection

Through interactive activities and participatory sessions, students were encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, express their perspectives, listen actively and explore how communication can help build stronger, more inclusive and peaceful communities.

A key highlight of the programme was the Storytelling Circle, which created a safe and open space for sharing personal experiences. The facilitators spoke about their home countries, professional journeys and encounters with some of the world’s most challenging realities, including apartheid, war, the genocide in Bosnia, displacement and the experiences of refugees.

Jigyasa also shared insights from her work with refugees, helping participants understand the realities faced by people who are forced to leave their homes and rebuild their lives in unfamiliar places.

Stories That Build Bridges

The storytelling approach helped transform complex global issues into personal and relatable human experiences. Rather than learning about conflict, displacement and discrimination only as historical or political subjects, students encountered them through the stories of people who had witnessed, experienced or worked alongside communities affected by them.

These conversations encouraged students to reflect on empathy, resilience, dialogue and human connection. They also demonstrated how sharing personal stories can help people understand one another beyond differences of culture, geography or experience.

Learning and Impact

The programme provided participants with opportunities to:

• Strengthen communication and interpersonal skills
• Build confidence in expressing ideas and perspectives
• Practise active listening and meaningful dialogue
• Develop empathy for people with different lived experiences
• Gain exposure to global perspectives and cultures
• Reflect on the role of young people in creating peaceful and inclusive communities

With 26 students participating, the programme maintained a close and interactive learning environment where young people could actively contribute, ask questions and connect with the facilitators.

Building a More Connected Future

The Building Bridges Youth Empowerment Programme demonstrated the power of creating spaces where young people can learn, listen, communicate and connect across cultures and experiences.

The combination of interactive learning and personal storytelling made the programme both engaging and meaningful. It reinforced the importance of connecting local young people with global perspectives and creating opportunities for them to develop the confidence, empathy and communication skills needed to contribute to more inclusive, peaceful and connected communities.