- 1-800-876-6204
- info@canjiinternational.com
a program of the Canji Institute of Leadership, prepares youth and young adults to lead with character, competence, and compassion. CYLA is built for individuals who want to become community ambassadors, global advocates, and future-ready leaders—capable of solving real problems, building strong teams, and creating sustainable change.
We believe leadership is not about a title—it is about how you show up, how you treat people, and how you respond when challenges appear. CYLA develops leaders through trust-building, emotional agility, mindful listening, mentoring, self-directed learning, transformative learning, and experiential practice.
is a collective of scholarly practitioners creating a sustainable society by safeguarding future generations. We transform mindsets and behaviors by strengthening the inner leadership of each participant—then guiding them to apply that growth through service, skill-building, and global community engagement. Our work is grounded in one powerful commitment: we create a better future by impacting one life at a time.
is to form global partnerships with people and organizations worldwide to positively transform the lives of vulnerable children, families, and individuals through social, educational, health, and community development services. CYLA works to improve participants’ lives by offering supportive, innovative services and the essential tools needed to succeed in adulthood, career, and leadership.
• Trust-building and integrity
• Emotional agility and self-awareness
• Mindful listening and healthy communication
• Mentorship and community responsibility
• Self-directed learning and accountability
• Transformative learning through real-world practice
• Become a better self and a stronger leader
• Strengthen relationships and communication
• Make a difference through service and advocacy
• Break barriers preventing youth success
• Build global connections and cultural competence
• Prepare for workforce onboarding and long-term success
This cornerstone course establishes each participant as an official CYLA ambassador. Youth learn what it means to represent leadership with dignity, confidence, and responsibility in their community and beyond. Participants build practical skills in public speaking, problem-solving, time management, and teamwork while completing community service hours. The ambassador journey builds credibility through action and creates a foundation of accountability, communication mastery, and leadership presence.
Key Outcomes: leadership identity, service experience, confidence, communication and accountability.
This course helps participants understand leadership from the inside out. Youth explore leadership styles, strengths, and growth areas while learning to clarify purpose and create a shared vision. Participants develop personal leadership statements, goal milestones, and a leadership blueprint that supports long-term growth. This course is designed to shape leaders who can inspire others, build unity, and lead with clarity in diverse environments.
Key Outcomes: purpose clarity, leadership blueprint, vision and goal-setting, empowering others.
Character is the backbone of every effective leader. This course develops ethical leadership through the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Through coaching, reflection, and group engagement, participants strengthen emotional maturity, ethical decision-making, and accountability. Youth learn how personal character shapes leadership influence, credibility, and long-term success.
Key Outcomes: values-based leadership, ethical decision-making, emotional maturity, credibility.
This course equips youth with the life and professional skills needed to thrive in today’s fast-paced world. Participants develop emotional agility, stress management tools, teamwork, adaptability, and professional behavior. The program helps youth learn to self-manage, solve problems, and navigate workplace and life challenges with resilience and confidence, strengthening both employability and personal stability.
Key Outcomes: job readiness, resilience, adaptability, self-management and teamwork.
Effective leaders know how to handle conflict without harm. This course teaches the ABC Method—Ask, Brainstorm, Choose—helping participants identify the problem, explore solutions, and commit to the healthiest outcome. Youth learn emotional regulation, non-violent communication, and conflict navigation skills to improve relationships and reduce reactive behavior. Participants gain tools to manage anger triggers connected to stress, finances, and social or family situations.
Key Outcomes: peaceful conflict skills, emotional regulation, relationship strengthening.
This course prepares youth leaders to recognize and respond responsibly to abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Participants learn definitions, warning signs, prevention strategies, and trauma-informed approaches that protect vulnerable individuals. The course emphasizes community responsibility, advocacy, and safeguarding—equipping youth to become informed protectors and compassionate leaders who understand the impact of trauma on behavior and development.
Key Outcomes: safeguarding awareness, advocacy, trauma-informed leadership.
Youth Entrepreneurship is a dynamic course that empowers participants to explore innovation and build real business concepts. Youth identify passions, learn entrepreneurial thinking, develop business plans, and practice ethical decision-making. Through mentorship and real-world guidance, participants gain exposure to marketing strategies and financial literacy. The course culminates in a business plan presentation that strengthens confidence, creativity, and practical economic empowerment.
Key Outcomes: business plan creation, financial literacy, ethical entrepreneurship, leadership through innovation.
This course teaches youth leaders to communicate strategically and represent organizations with integrity. Participants learn message development, branding, community engagement, media relations, and digital presence while practicing transparency and credibility. Youth gain crisis communication awareness and learn how leaders protect trust through clear communication. The program strengthens each participant’s voice, professional image, and leadership influence.
Key Outcomes: strategic messaging, personal brand development, media readiness, trust-building communication.
Strong leaders build strong teams. This course trains participants to identify talent, recruit volunteers and members, and sustain leadership teams for community initiatives and organizations. Youth learn inclusive recruitment practices, engagement strategies, leadership succession planning, and team-building approaches that strengthen organizational growth and long-term sustainability.
Key Outcomes: team-building, inclusive leadership, recruitment strategy, organizational sustainability.
This hands-on workforce support program prepares young adults for successful entry into employment. Participants receive help navigating job opportunities, resumes, cover letters, references, interview readiness, and workplace expectations. Youth also learn how to advocate for accommodations where needed and adjust to professional routines. Monthly workshops strengthen soft skills, transferable skills, financial education, and long-term employability.
Key Outcomes: workforce transition readiness, professional confidence, job stability and soft skills.
This course connects participants with mentorship support while also teaching them how to become mentors to others. Youth build professional relationships rooted in guidance, knowledge sharing, and goal development. Mentoring strengthens career direction, builds confidence, expands networks, and supports leadership continuity by training participants to both receive wisdom and give it forward.
Key Outcomes: mentorship experience, career guidance, leadership continuity, networking and support.
This global readiness course prepares participants to lead across cultures in modern virtual and hybrid environments. Youth develop intercultural competence, cultural humility, communication skills, and the ability to collaborate respectfully with people from different backgrounds. The program strengthens teamwork, reduces misunderstandings, and builds inclusive leadership habits that are essential for global ambassadors.
Key Outcomes: cultural intelligence, inclusive collaboration, global communication skills.
The capstone is the culmination of the CYLA experience. Participants design and implement a real-world change initiative using a structured change management approach. Youth identify a community, organizational, or institutional challenge and develop a plan to create measurable improvement. The capstone produces a final leadership portfolio and presentation, demonstrating readiness to lead with strategy, accountability, and impact.
Key Outcomes: capstone project, leadership portfolio, measurable community impact, certification completion.
This module equips participants with practical skills in budgeting, saving, credit awareness, goal-based financial planning, and responsible decision-making. Youth learn how finances influence independence, stability, and leadership sustainability, strengthening their ability to manage resources and plan for long-term success.
This module prepares youth to lead ethically in digital spaces. Participants learn online professionalism, responsible communication, misinformation awareness, media literacy, and how to use technology to amplify positive leadership and community impact.
This module supports the whole leader by addressing wellness, resilience, mental health awareness, trauma understanding, and compassionate leadership responses. Youth explore real-world challenges that affect communities and learn strategies for self-care and healthy coping while building empathy and support skills for others.
This module builds informed leaders who understand how systems work and how change happens. Participants explore civic responsibility, advocacy, voting awareness, community engagement, and policy influence at local and broader levels, equipping youth to lead beyond personal success into community transformation.
