“KECTIL” is an acronym that refers to the Knowles Educational and Charitable Trust for International Leadership. The Program connects talented youth leaders born for greatness in developing countries worldwide for deep discussion and networking about issues that matter, as well as proposed actions to improve the quality of life locally and globally. The Program is offered for free from the Malmar Knowles Family Foundation. Youth in the Kectil Program are referred to as Kectil Colleagues.
The Kectil Program accepts youth aged 17-26 in a developing country. We believe that this is a critical time as youth mature, in which they start to decide what they will do for the rest of their lives. The Kectil Program wants to promote positive advancement for personal and community success through mentoring and encouragement, as well as by joining a networked group of like-minded peers.
Applicants must also be proficient in English and have access to a computer and the internet.
However, for the 2025 Kectil cohort, we are also accepting youth who are proficient in Spanish. This is the first year that Kectil will be running the online assignment modules in both English and Spanish. This is a big advancement for the Kectil Program as it begins to serve youth who do not speak English.
How does The Kectil Program achieve its goals?
The Kectil Program accomplishes its goals through a one-year intensive study program that includes assignment-based modules on key subjects. The Kectil Colleagues share their answers with all of the youth in the program in a passcode protected safe-space, that can only be accessed by the Kectil Colleagues. In addition, the Program includes Webinars with key leaders, Zoom meetings, regional interaction and Campaigns. In addition, the full public is invited to enjoy Kectil Podcasts, the Kectil YouTube Channel and our active social media on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
The Web-Based Kectil Modules focus on multiple-week subjects affecting youth in developing countries with deep dive challenging Assignments. The subjects include: Authentic Leadership, Good Government; Personal Finance; Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Environment; Gender Balance; Mental Health; Unemployment and Corruption.
What are the benefits of The Kectil Program?
What are your responsibilities as a Kectil Colleague?
Who is the Kectil Founder and Executive Director?
Ms. Sherry Knowles founded The Malmar Knowles Family Foundation in 2016 and initiated the Kectil Program in 2017. Ms. Knowles is a global Intellectual Property Lawyer with a keen love for youth throughout the world, and notably in developing countries. Many youth in the program refer to her as the Kectil Mom! She earns this name because she wants the best for each Kectil Colleague and also demands the best from them. She is a very hard worker and is a role model for youth who are also hard workers and want to make a change in the world.
She is an intellectual property attorney with 35 years of experience in global corporate and private practice. She was the Global Chief Patent Counsel for GlaxoSmithKline with a department of over 200 people in 12 offices across the world. She was named one of the top 10 most influential people in Intellectual Property by Managing IP Magazine. Ms. Knowles founded the law firm of Knowles IP Strategies, LLC (Atlanta, GA) in 2011. She has a B.S., cum laude, with distinction in Chemistry from Duke University; an M.S. in Organic Chemistry from Clemson University; and a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia. She has been asked to speak before U.S. Congress on intellectual Property issues. She is a frequent national level speaker and author on innovation and entropreneurship, as well as subjects pertaining to youth development.