International Youth Alliance for Peace

What International Youth Alliance for Peace does

International Youth Alliance for Peace (IYAP) is a Sri Lanka-based, youth-led non-profit organization founded on November 21, 2013 by Mr. Thirukumar Premakumar with six individuals. It delivers peacebuilding, civic leadership, democracy education, and youth empowerment programs targeting young people aged 16-35 across Sri Lanka and South Asia, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan. The organization's core product portfolio centers on the multi-phase Active Youth Program (Advanced Diploma in Democracy, Governance & Participation) supported by the Interfaith Dialogue Circle, Faith in Action FoRB project, PAVE civic participation program, SLMUN Leadership and Advocacy initiative, the HRGG Course, and the Catalyst Youth Leadership Program.

IYAP's digital infrastructure is built on a Next.js website serving as the central hub for program information, applications, blog content via the Bloggers Collective, and volunteer recruitment, supplemented by Substack newsletters and Google Forms-based application processing. There is no proprietary AI/ML technology, no public API, and no mobile application; program delivery is human-centered through structured training sessions, community-implemented projects, online courses, and events. The organization's technology posture is standard web CMS with image management via a custom admin backend.

The revenue model is grant and donation-based, with project-specific funding from institutional donors such as Alliance Development Trust and programmatic support from US-government-aligned partners including American Center and American Corner Batticaloa. All programs and training are provided free of charge to participants. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, reaching beneficiaries through 2,500+ volunteers, 140+ partner organizations, 18 districts in Sri Lanka, and structured volunteer recruitment programs including the Youth Catalyst Network and The Alliance organizational networking platform.

Name

International Youth Alliance for Peace

Legal name

International Youth Alliance for Peace

Website

https://iyap.global

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

IYAP is a Sri Lanka-based, youth-led non-profit founded in 2013 that delivers peacebuilding, civic leadership, and youth empowerment programs across South Asia, training 500-1,000 youth leaders annually and partnering with 140+ organizations in 4 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development & Peacebuilding Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership, Character Education & Values Development (EDAMAIAG), Peace, Security Sector Reform & Stabilization Programs (BPADABAH), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Youth empowerment programs
• Peacebuilding services
• Civic leadership training
• Interfaith dialogue
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Colombo

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: IYAP operates as a non-profit organization relying on donations and grants from institutional donors such as Alliance Development Trust for specific projects like Faith in Action.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IYAP delivers a portfolio of free youth empowerment programs focused on civic leadership, peacebuilding, and community development for young people aged 16–35 across Sri Lanka and South Asia. Its flagship is the Active Youth Program (AYP), a multi-phase Advanced Diploma in Democracy, Governance & Participation, complemented by programs such as the Interfaith Dialogue Circle, PAVE, Faith in Action, Leadership and Advocacy with SLMUN, the HRGG Course, and the Catalyst Youth Leadership Program, supported by volunteer networks and organizational partnerships.

Product overview

International Youth Alliance for Peace (IYAP) operates a portfolio of interconnected youth empowerment, peacebuilding, and civic leadership programs anchored by the IYAP Website Platform as its primary digital hub. The core product suite includes the Active Youth Program (AYP) — a multi-phase Advanced Diploma in Democracy, Governance & Participation spanning four phases (Strategic Course, Creative Diploma, and two Advanced Diploma phases) with mandatory community implementation — and the Bloggers Collective for content creation and advocacy. Supporting programs include the Interfaith Dialogue Circle, Faith in Action (FIA), PAVE (People Against Violence in Elections), Leadership and Advocacy with SLMUN, HRGG Course (Human Rights and Global Goals), and the Catalyst Youth Leadership Program. Cross-cutting infrastructure includes the Youth Catalyst Network (volunteer community), The Alliance (organizational networking platform), the Internship Program, and the SYA (Strategic Youth Alliance) program. The organization is headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with operations across South Asia including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Afghanistan, and engages youth aged 16–35.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Active Youth Program (AYP) A flagship civic leadership and democracy program structured as a multi-phase Advanced Diploma in Democracy, Governance & Participation for youth aged 16–35. It combines civic education, critical thinking, research, and real-world community implementation across four phases spanning 16 weeks to 8 months each, currently in Phase 04 requiring mandatory community project implementation. Delivered free of charge to participants in partnership with the American Center.
• Youth for Rights and Sustainability (HRGG Course) A 10-week online human rights and sustainable development goals (SDG) education course designed to foster young activists with knowledge and tools necessary to advocate for human rights and SDGs. Participants receive a Certified Youth Advocate in Human Rights and Sustainable Development Goals certificate. Implemented in partnership with Lodhran Pilot Project (LPP) and accessible across the Asia-Pacific region.
• Interfaith Dialogue Circle An interfaith dialogue and social harmony program fostering religious coexistence among Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Christian, and Catholic youth in Sri Lanka. Delivered through structured sessions and field visits, currently offering a Foundation Level Certificate Course with 15 young participants across 10 comprehensive sessions and 2 field visits. A Certificate Level Course was planned for end of 2024.
• Faith in Action (FIA) A completed interfaith and freedom of religion/belief (FoRB) program implemented in partnership with Alliance Development Trust, documenting religious discrimination and vandalism across Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Matale districts in Sri Lanka (November 2023 – June 2024). Involved 30 community leaders and 130 community needs assessments with faith leaders, youth leaders, women leaders, legal professionals, civil society actors, and media personnel.
• PAVE (People Against Violence in Elections) A completed democratic engagement and civic participation program (August 2023 – March 2024) fostering democratic engagement, leadership, and active citizenship among youth in Jaffna, Hambantota, and Colombo. Reached 500 participants, trained 50 youth leaders, and established 30 community facilitators through 12 training sessions, 12 mentorship sessions, and 4 community projects.
• Leadership and Advocacy with SLMUN A youth leadership and advocacy program implemented in collaboration with Sri Lanka Model United Nations (SLMUN), providing essential social and leadership skills to young leaders through a 5-month journey (June–October 2024) with 15 interactive sessions engaging 30 ambassadors from 22 schools. Participants received a Certified Leaders Award upon completion.
• Catalyst Youth Leadership Program A structured youth development initiative implemented in partnership with American Corner Batticaloa, designed to strengthen leadership, communication, and personal growth among young people aged 18–35 in Batticaloa. Completed Phase 1 (November 2025 – February 2026) with six core sessions, 20 participants, and 5 community-based activities reaching 219 indirect beneficiaries.
• Youth Catalyst Network The volunteer community and network of IYAP connecting young changemakers with opportunities to contribute skills in event management, social media, graphic design, and blogging. Offers flexible volunteer roles with training, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities for youth across Sri Lanka and South Asia.
• The Alliance A dynamic networking initiative serving as a platform for connecting with like-minded organizations globally, with a focus on fostering partnerships in Sri Lanka. Provides exclusive access to training, funding opportunities, technical support, and resource sharing for member organizations.
• IYAP Internship Program A structured internship program offering hands-on experience in peacebuilding, youth empowerment, and community development. Provides opportunities in communications, project management, and advocacy areas, with mentorship from industry experts and the ability to contribute to meaningful projects.
• SYA Program (Strategic Youth Alliance) Strategic Youth Alliance program launched in 2021 offering 280 full-time internships across 9 provinces and 14 districts in Sri Lanka, implemented in partnership with over 140 organizations, designed to combat youth unemployment and advocate for youth inclusion and policy.
• Bloggers Collective A community of writers and content creators producing blog posts on social issues, youth empowerment, and global change. The collective publishes articles across categories including Leadership and Advocacy, Research and Insights, Peacebuilding, Youth Empowerment, Mental Health, and AI & Technology for Youth, with guidelines requiring 800–1,500 words, original content, and proper source attribution.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000+ lives directly and indirectly impacted
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered key and supporting.

• American CenterkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Center is a strategic partner for the Active Youth Program (AYP), IYAP's flagship civic leadership initiative. The program transforms youth understanding of democracy through real community engagement and leadership development, implementing the Advanced Diploma in Democracy, Governance & Participation.
• Sri Lanka Model United Nations (SLMUN)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLMUN collaborates with IYAP on the Leadership and Advocacy program, an innovative initiative equipping young leaders with essential social and leadership skills. The program engaged 30 ambassadors from 22 schools through 15 interactive sessions over a 5-month period (June-October 2024).
• American Corner BatticaloakeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Corner Batticaloa partnered with IYAP to implement the Catalyst Youth Leadership Program Phase 1. The program ran from November 2025 to February 2026, serving youth aged 18-35 in Batticaloa with 20 participants and 5 community-based activities reaching 219 indirect beneficiaries.
• Lodhran Pilot Project (LPP)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLodhran Pilot Project (LPP), a Pakistan-based not-for-profit organization committed to development and humanitarian objectives, is a partner for the Human Rights and Global Goals (HRGG) Course. The 10-week online course supports young activists in advocating for human rights and SDGs across the Asia-Pacific region.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Restless Development: Youth-led development agency placing young people as volunteers and leaders in communities across Africa, Asia, and beyond. Closely mirrors IYAP's volunteer-driven, youth-led, leadership-training model delivered at district/national scale.
• Search for Common Ground: Global peacebuilding nonprofit working on conflict transformation with a strong focus on youth engagement and civic participation. Directly comparable to IYAP in mission (peace and inclusive civic participation) and beneficiary focus (young leaders in fragile contexts).
• Peace Direct: INGO that partners with and funds local peacebuilding organizations in conflict-affected countries. Comparable to IYAP as a peace-and-cohesion-focused entity delivering structured training programs and working through a distributed partner ecosystem.
• International Alert: International peacebuilding organization working on conflict resolution, security, and inclusive governance with long-standing programming in South Asia. Comparable to IYAP's focus on peacebuilding, interfaith/social cohesion, and governance in conflict-affected geographies like Sri Lanka.
• AIESEC: Global youth leadership organization running leadership development programs, internships, and cross-cultural exchanges in 120+ countries. Highly comparable to IYAP on youth (16-30) leadership training, internship placement (e.g., IYAP's SYA 280 internships), and global volunteer network structure.

Broad incumbents

• BRAC: One of the largest development organizations in the world, headquartered in Bangladesh with programs across South Asia and Africa. Comparable as a South Asian-based nonprofit running youth-focused, community-delivered development programming at massive scale, though operating across many more sectors (health, education, microfinance).
• Habitat for Humanity (Youth Programs): Large international nonprofit running structured youth engagement programs (Youth Leaders United, Global Village) with significant volunteer mobilization across many countries. Comparable to IYAP on the structured multi-phase program + large volunteer network + partnership-led delivery model.
• Ashoka: Global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs, including young changemakers. Comparable to IYAP in identifying, training, and connecting young changemakers across geographies and in deploying them into community-change projects.
• United Nations Volunteers (UNV): UN system for mobilizing volunteers for development and peace, with a strong youth volunteer focus. Comparable to IYAP's volunteer-mobilization and youth-development model operating under international development frameworks.

Emerging players

• Global Citizen: Youth-focused civic engagement platform mobilizing young people around advocacy, campaigns, and policy commitments on global issues. Comparable to IYAP in targeting young change-makers and building campaigns around civic participation, though IYAP is program/service-based rather than campaign-based.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iyap

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Youth Alliance for Peace