The Kectil Program held its first Southeast Asia Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam. Twenty-seven Vietnamese youth took part, and one Kectil colleague joined from Laos.
Founder and Executive Director Sherry M. Knowles moderated. Joel Odota, a Kectil senior mentor and youth representative from Uganda — co-founder of the Lamwo Youth Forum for Change, a youth-led initiative in Lamwo District that trains young leaders in governance, business, entrepreneurship, and public management — presented on growing up in Uganda and on making a difference as a youth leader.
The week’s purpose was the same as Nairobi, Accra, and Delhi: meet youth leaders in the region, talk about the issues in front of them, and brainstorm how they can make a positive difference at home. The Kectil Program was glad to be in the room.
That Hanoi week was the first Southeast Asia gathering. Later regional weeks follow the same pattern. The 2027 program year still asks colleagues to learn together, then serve where they live.