Watch the program
Conference days, community projects, and youth voices live on The Kectil Program YouTube channel.
YouTubeThe Kectil Program Empowering youth leaders worldwide.
The Kectil ProgramEmpowering youth leaders worldwide.
From 2015 through 2026, Kectil has prepared young leaders to serve their communities. Hosted by the Malmar Knowles Family Foundation.
The Kectil Program
A one-year leadership journey for youth ages 17–26, hosted by the Malmar Knowles Family Foundation. Authentic leadership, good governance, and community impact — apply for the 2027 Program on this site.
Impact in action
It begins with Youth Speak — a survey of nearly 5,000 young people in 113 countries. From there, community projects and essays carry that voice into the world.
1 / 3 · The Kectil Global Youth Index
The Kectil Global Youth Index
Youth Speak asked young people what they need and how they lead. Their answers became the Global Youth Index — research youth leaders can carry into classrooms, policy rooms, and neighborhood work.
- Young people heard
- 4,958
- Countries
- 113
- Youth Speak years
- 2025–2026
- Median age
- 23
Gallery
Photos from Alumni and Global Youth Index gatherings — a window into the wider Kectil community.
Ghana Conference 2025
Photos from the KECTIL Regional Youth Leadership Conference in Accra, 2025.
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Kectil Conference 2017
Photos from Kectil Conference 2017.
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Kectil Gallery
Photos and videos from Kectil Gallery.
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Armenia Center Overview
Photos from Armenia Center Overview.
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Kectil Community Projects
Program participants lead community projects in education, environment, health, and inclusion after the program year.
- 2025 projects completed
- 155
- 2025 countries
- 36
- 2026 registered projects
- 493
- 2026 countries
- 61
The work continues in communities
Colleagues carry leadership into classrooms, markets, gardens, and local hubs. Impact stories live here; the alumni network is a separate home.
Visit Kectil Alumni
Global Youth IP Forum
The Global Youth IP Forum is sponsored by The Kectil Program and The Global Intellectual Property Alliance (GLIPA) as a six-part webinar series curated exclusively for Kectil Colleagues and Kectil Alumni with internationally known experts in the area.
In 2026, The Global Youth IP Forum is providing (i) An Introduction to Intellectual Property, (ii) Artificial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs and Innovators, (iii) Patents, (iv) Trademarks, (v) Copyrights and (vi) Ask an Expert!
The sessions are hosted by Sherry M. Knowles, the Founder and Executive Director of the Kectil Program and an internationally recognized IP attorney with over 30 years of experience advising global entrepreneurs and innovators; and Maria Fernanda Hurtado, the Executive Director and Latin America Regional Co-Chair of the Global Intellectual Property Alliance, a nonprofit global organization working with international organizations, innovators, creators, governments and non-governmental organizations to promote global understanding and respect for Intellectual Property and its proper implementation.
About GLIPA
The Global Intellectual Property Alliance (GLIPA) is a premier non-profit association of more than 500 global IP experts and organizations. Observer organization before the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), GLIPA operates on the core principle that intellectual property can elevate communities and improve lives globally.
Listen to the podcast
The Kectil World Youth Network podcast is a home for colleague conversations after the webcasts.
PodcastColleague voices
“Empowered youth, transformed communities. The 2025 Alumni Essay Competition asked colleagues to write that work down.”
“The Lima conference was never meant to be conventional. Young leaders from across Latin America designed a room they could speak in.”
“The World Youth Network podcast is how colleagues keep talking after the year — stories, questions, and the work at home.”
Apply for the 2027 Program
Youth leaders ages 17–26. Apply for the 2027 Program on this site.