Building character strengths and virtues in Sri Lanka: a cluster randomized pre-post evaluation of a school-based intervention.

BACKGROUND: Sri Lanka (SL) is a multiethnic nation that has endured a decades-long civil war and a devastating tsunami. These events led to a widespread loss of life, displacement, destruction of family and social infrastructure, and economic collapse. Their impact was compounded by adverse social determinants such as poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, and homelessness. Sri Lankan youth are particularly vulnerable to the cumulative effects of these acute and chronic stressors, underscoring the urgent need for interventions that foster resilience and healing. METHODS: We will implement a 10-week school-based program - Leadership, Empathy, Altruism, Personal Growth, and Social Responsibility (LEAPS) - to cultivate character strengths in youth. The program will be culturally and historically tailored to the SL context, and will integrate key tenets from the country’s four major religions to promote unity, social values, and spiritual collaboration. LEAPS will consist of 10 interactive modules delivered through a web-based platform during regular school hours, supplementing the standard curriculum. Teachers will be trained using the train-the-trainer model to facilitate student engagement, ensure program fidelity and long-term sustainability. The impact of LEAPS on student character development and well-being will be evaluated using a cluster randomized pre-post design. Students will be assigned either to the intervention group (where they will participate in the LEAPS program alongside their regular curriculum) or the control group (where they will follow the standard curriculum without additional interventions). Assessments of character strengths and well-being will be conducted via student questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 6-month follow-up. Changes over time and between groups will be analyzed to determine program benefits and effectiveness. DISCUSSION: The LEAPS program aims to enhance character development and well-being in SL youth. The interactive, web-based format of the program is also anticipated to facilitate uptake, knowledge translation, scalability and long-term sustainability, benefiting not only youth but also their families and broader communities. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with the Sri Lanka Trials Registry (No: SLCTR/2020/016) on June 25, 2020.