Kectil Program 2024 (Knowles Educational and Charitable Trust for International Leadership)

The title "Kectil" refers to the "Knowles Educational and Charitable Trust for International Leadership". The goal of this program is to nurture, network, and mentor youth in developing countries who have the potential to be leaders and make a positive difference in their communities, countries..... and maybe even the world!

What Is KectilOn-line Program?

Web-based mentoring program for talented youth in developing countries:

• Multiple-week modules with deep dive challenging assignments to address hot issues facing youth globally, led by experts and key youth leaders
• Good government; peace-keeping; entrepreneurship and innovation; environment; male and female roles in society; mental health; unemployment; early pregnancies and female reproductive health; corruption in society; etc.
• Join community engagements to implement social advancements
• Meet and network with talented passionate youth around the world
• Make life-long global friends who share your commitment to advance society
• Not a political, religious or cultural organization; transcends every form of bias
• Authentic, honest, candid dialogue
• Merit-based certificates awarded at the end of the program
• Connect with other students on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) with facilitated web-based group discussion.

One Year Web-Based Program Curriculum

The Kectil Web-based Program consists of 12 Modules:

1. Introduction and Mission
2. Lessons on Leadership from Martin Luther King and other transformational change makers
3. Enabling Women to Succeed in Society
4. Population Growth and its Effect on Youth & Youth Unemployment and Poverty Employment
5. Colonialism and Occupation
6. Innovation to Advance Society
7. Entrepreneurship and Corporate Product Development
8. Environmental Sustainability
9. Personal and Group Management
10. Good Government
11. Local Projects to Improve Communities
12. Wrap-up and What’s Next?

The modules consist of thought-provoking assignments, case studies and web-sessions.

Blogs

Kectil Colleagues are provided with a platform write Blog articles about Kectil subjects, matters affecting your country or region or current perspectives on topical issues. We post well written articles that are thought provoking. Their blogs encourage and inspire other colleagues who read and leave comments.

News

Kectil Colleagues are also given the platform to share news on the current happenings in their personal lives, communities, and countries. We like to celebrate and feature colleagues’ academic awards, community services, scholarships, etc. This also serves as a motivation to their peers to aspire higher in their fields of endeavor.

Regional Groups

The Kectil Program creates discussion groups for the Kectil Colleagues in the various regions to facilitate discussions, meet each other, discuss topics of interest and perhaps even meet in person. We create discussion groups in the Colleague Connect website. The groups are led by selected Regional Leaders from the Youth Leadership Council and Superior Performance Awardees. The Regional Leaders facilitate the group discussions.

Awards

The Kectil Program gives two awards to outstanding participants: the Developing Countries Youth Leadership Atlanta Conference Awards and the Kectil Mentor Awards.

The Developing Countries Youth Leadership Atlanta Conference Award is given to stand-out participants in the Kectil Program. The awardees are invited to attend the intensive one-week leadership workshop held in Atlanta, Georgia. We select a number of Kectil Colleagues with superior performance to receive the Kectil Mentor Award. The Colleagues are assigned a mentor for the next year to communicate with and seek advice. The mentors awarded are usually in line with the awardees areas of interest and career path.

Certificates

We award four kinds of Certificates: Youth Leadership Council Certificate, Certificate of Excellent Performance, Certificate of Superior Performance and Certificate of Participation. The Kectil team reviews the engagement of each Colleague over the entire year based on the number of assignments completed and other contributions and determines which certificate they earn.

Certificates of Excellent Performance are earned by stand out Colleagues demonstrate consistent engagement with the Program throughout the year.  Certificates of Superior Performance are earned by colleagues who demonstrate a significant level of contribution. Colleagues who earn either of these two certificates are selected as Peer Mentors for the next cohort.

Kectil Colleagues who do not qualify for either of the above certificates will receive a Certificate of Participation. Kectil Colleagues who attend the Developing Countries Youth Leadership Conference in Atlanta also receive an additional Certificate to commemorate their participation in the intensive leadership workshop. They are also selected to form the Youth Leadership Council for the next cohort.

Youth Leadership Council 

The Kectil Program creates a Youth Leadership Council made up of exemplary colleagues who attend the Developing Countries Youth Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The Youth Leadership Council act as mentors and as guides throughout the year. They will also manage and run the Kectil Alumni website.