Child Leader Project is a non-hierarchical, transnational community organization. We believe all people have the power to lead and transform their world. We are architects of the spaces where we come into our own leadership individually and with one another. Our organizational framework seeks to support this vision of both individual and collective leadership and creativity. CLP was initiated in India in 2008 with a week-long leadership program in Tiruchiripalli, Tamil Nadu, South India. The higher secondary school program quickly expanded from twenty students to forty before expanding to other schools and community organizations in Chennai and Kanchipuram in 2009. From 2008-2010, CLP mentors from the USA organized over five leadership programs with three different partners across Tamil Nadu, engaging over 100 Indian children and youth in social justice leadership programming. In 2009, CLP partnered with new partners in Pondicherry, India. These current partners include Baby Sarah Home Orphanage, New Era Child Collective and Child Helpage in Long Duration (CHILD). CLP also engages young adults, youth and children in KS Garden Slum in Bangalore, Karnataka in partnership with student leaders from St. Joseph’s College of Arts and Sciences. CLP became a registered Indian organization with an all-Indian young adult team in Spring 2011 under the name “Trust for Youth and Child Leadership” (TYCL).
In India, TYCL youth mentors organize monthly programming at each community center, engaging issues of Dalit and child rights, community organizing, asset-mapping and artistic expression. Participants also celebrate holidays and organize retreat programs with art centers, non-profits and local leaders. In August 2010, CLP-USA and TYCL mentors collaborated with youth leaders to organize “My Community Magazine” – a youth-edited magazine reflecting the social justice concerns of each village community center and orphanage. In November 2011, TYCL released its second social media project, the “Child-Centric Social Justice Music Album” in partnership with MUGHIL Social Welfare Organization. CLP-USA and TYCL teams collaborate on programming in India July and August of each year. TYCL also accepts CLP-USA interns throughout the year. To participate in TYCL programming abroad, contact TYCL Executive Learner, MDS Shiva (shiva@childleaderproject.org).
