International Youth Buddhist Fellowship (IYBF)2026

Organized by Sri Lanka Network of Engaged Buddhists (SriNEB) in collaboration with the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB)

Proposed Dates: 8-17 February 2027 [10 days duration]
Location: Three venues in Sri Lanka
Language: English

1. Introduction

The International Youth Buddhist Fellowship (IYBF) is a residential fellowship bringing together approximately 20–25 young Buddhists and socially engaged youth leaders both monastic and lay persons from Sri Lanka and across Asia and beyond with the primary retreat on 8-17 February 2027. Organized by SriNEB in collaboration with INEB, the programme creates a transformative space for learning, contemplative practice, dialogue and community engagement. 

INEB is an international network of Buddhist individuals and organizations committed to peace, justice, sustainability, and compassionate social transformation through engaged Buddhist practice.

SriNEB is the affiliated Sri Lankan network that promotes socially engaged Buddhist thought and practice through dialogue, education, reflection, community engagement, and initiatives that contribute to social justice and healing.

By bringing together participants from Sri Lanka, , Myanmar, Thailand and other parts of the world, the fellowship encourages rich cross-cultural dialogue on how Buddhist teachings are understood and applied in different societies. The IYBF program will complement similar youth programs organized by INEB and hosted in Taiwan and North India respectively inspired by Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions and will offer a unique experienced rooted within the Theravada tradition. 

2. Background

Young people today are growing up amid increasing social polarization, conflict, inequality, ecological crises, displacement, mental distress, and uncertainty about the future. While Buddhist traditions offer profound teachings on compassion, interdependence, ethics, and wisdom, many young people have limited opportunities to explore how these teachings can be meaningfully applied to contemporary social realities.

There is therefore a growing need for programmes that:

• Connect Buddhist teachings with lived social realities.

• Encourage critical reflection rather than theoretical or conceptual learning.

• Build relationships across ethnic, religious, national, and cultural differences and transendes identity and power divides.

• Develop compassionate and ethically grounded youth leadership.

• Inspire practical social engagement rooted in Buddhist values.

IYBF is designed to respond to this need by combining contemplative practice, dialogue, experiential learning, field engagement, and cross-cultural exchange.

3. Objectives

• Deepen participants’ understanding of socially engaged Buddhism within a Theravada context.

• Explore the relationship between Buddhist teachings and contemporary social challenges.

• Foster deep dialogue, mutual understanding, and trust among youth from diverse backgrounds.

• Strengthen ethical leadership, compassion, and social responsibility.

• Encourage participants to integrate Buddhist teachings into both personal practice and social engagement for the welfare of all (bahujana hitaya).

• Build an ongoing international network of young Buddhist practitioners and changemakers.

4. Content Areas

Foundations of Socially Engaged Buddhism

Principles, ethics, compassion, interdependence and ‘Bahujana Hitaya’.

The Human Buddha: Life as a Model for Social Transformation

Exploring the Buddha as a human being whose life demonstrates courage, compassion, ethical leadership, dialogue, inclusion, conflict transformation and service, drawing practical lessons from key episodes in his life.

Identity, Power and Ethical Leadership

Identity, privilege, youth leadership and social responsibility.

Core Buddhist Teachings

Four Noble Truths, Dependent Co-Origination, Four Brahma Viharas and related teachings.

Socially Engaged Buddhism in Practice

Examples from Sri Lanka together with experiences from Myanmar, Thailand, South India and other countries, highlighting diverse applications of Buddhist teachings in peacebuilding, community development, ecology, education and social wellbeing.

Conflict, Peace and Reconciliation in the Sri Lankan Context

A dedicated exploration of Sri Lanka’s experience of conflict, healing, reconciliation, coexistence and peacebuilding through dialogue, field visits and encounters with practitioners.

5. Program Approach and Agenda

• Interactive learning and dialogue sessions:  Learning through conversation rather than one-way teaching.

• Meditation and contemplative practices: Daily mindfulness, reflection, and grounding practices.

• Field visits and community immersion: Direct engagement with communities and initiatives.

• Reflection circles and peer learning: Shared learning through dialogue and listening.

• Story-sharing and practitioner encounters: Learning from lived experience and community leadership.

• Collaborative action projects and creative engagement: Including a collective gallery exhibition at the end of the programme.

The international composition of the cohort will create opportunities to compare Buddhist practice and social engagement across Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, India, and other contexts.

6. Participant Profile

Participants (18–35 years) include students, young monastics, educators, activists, community practitioners and social entrepreneurs with a basic grounding in Buddhist teachings and a commitment to practice, openness and collaborative learning.

• Be between 18 and 35 years of age.

• Have a basic understanding of Buddhist teachings.

• Able to communicate effectively in English. 

• Demonstrate sincere interest in Buddhist practice and ethical living.

• Be open to engaging with people from diverse backgrounds.

• Agree to observe the Five Precepts (basic Buddist practice discipline) throughout the programme.

• Participate actively in a collaborative learning environment.

• Commit to ongoing alumni and online learning activities after the fellowship.

7. Programme and Logistics

A ten-day residential programme in Sri Lanka including community building, thematic learning, field visits, cultural exchange and action planning. 

Participants will require to cover their own costs for travel to Sri Lanka/venue. Individual participants and/or institutions recommending participants may contribute towards the programme costs for themselves and for others if possible but is not considered a requirement.