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Collaborative on Global Children's Issues

Lakshitha Saji Prelis headshot

Lakshitha Saji Prelis

Collaborative on Global Children's Issues

Lakshitha Saji Prelis is co-chair of the Global Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security and director of Children & Youth Programs at Search for Common Ground (SFCG). With over 25 years of experience, Saji has been a leading figure in youth movements within conflict and transition environments across more than 35 countries.



  • Advises governments on effective youth engagement strategies.
  • Co-led successful advocacy for the UN Security Council Resolutions 2250 (2015), 2419 (2018), and 2535 (2020) as co-chair of the Global Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security.
  • Director of Children & Youth Programs at SFCG, where he develops and oversees programs that promote peace and security for young people globally.
  • Founding director of the Peacebuilding & Development Institute at American University in Washington, DC, where he co-developed over 100 training curricula focusing on the intersection of peacebuilding and development.
  • Recipient of the distinguished Luxembourg Peace Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Peace Support.
  • Obtained his master’s degree in international peace & conflict resolution from American University in Washington, DC.