‘Servant Leadership in Action’ Research Project
A Community Perspective on the Impact of Servant Leadership in Community Development
Overview:
“Servant Leadership in Action” is a global, community-based research project led by Global Peace Let’s Talk (GPLT), aimed at exploring how servant leadership is practised and experienced at the grassroots level. The project contributes to the emerging body of scholarly literature focusing on servant leadership in communities, non-profit organisations, and community-based initiatives.
The Rationale:
Servant leadership, a style of leadership that prioritises service over power and authority, has gained renewed attention amidst growing criticism of traditional leadership styles that often centre on control, self-interest, and hierarchy. With public trust in leaders declining, servant leadership offers a values-based, people-first alternative that fosters empathy, empowerment, and ethical responsibility. However, there remains a gap in understanding how these principles play out in real-world community contexts—this project seeks to fill that gap.
Methodology:
The study utilises a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, engaging peacebuilders and development practitioners in GPLT’s global network. These participants undergo a Training of Trainers course in Nonviolent Communication and Servant Leadership. As part of the training, participants identify local leaders who embody servant leadership traits within their community, not-for-profit, or grassroots organisation.
Participants act as co-researchers, submitting written justifications for their selected leaders and providing supporting evidence. They conduct semi-structured interviews using a collaboratively designed questionnaire that balances consistency with local relevance. This approach not only strengthens the research process but also builds participatory researchers to internalise servant leadership principles in action.
Outcomes:
The study will use thematic analysis to explore:
- Key traits and practices of servant leaders in communities.
- Challenges they face in local development work.
- Impact on community empowerment and social cohesion.
By capturing diverse voices and lived experiences from around the world, the project will generate rich, grounded insights into how servant leadership contributes to sustainable community development.
Research Team:
Principal Investigator:
Janith Perera
Janith Perera serves as the Executive of Peace Education at Global Peace Let’s Talk. In addition to his role as Principal Investigator of the Servant Leadership in Action research project, he co-directs the Training of Trainers programme in Nonviolent Communication and Servant Leadership.
A doctoral fellow at the School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds (UK), Janith brings over a decade of experience in peacebuilding, community and international development, and youth engagement. He also has experience as a lecturer in further and higher education in both Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. His previous research includes contributions to two international projects—one on youth engagement in peacebuilding and preventing violent extremism, and the other on adaptive leadership in education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Janith’s academic and practical work centres on youth agency, values-based leadership, and participatory approaches that support inclusive, community-led social transformation.
Janith Perera
Executive: Peace Education
Young Researchers:
Aaliyah Sharplin
Aaliyah Sharplin
Aaliyah Sharplin holds an undergraduate degree in Politics and Modern History from the University of Manchester, with a focus on grassroots responses to global crises such as COVID-19. She furthered this passion through a Master’s in Public Administration at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she examined global organisations through a gendered lens. A placement at a local not-for-profit deepened her understanding of the lived experiences of poverty and the role of local authorities and communities in addressing them. As a young researcher in the Servant Leadership in Action project with Global Peace Let’s Talk, Aaliyah is eager to develop her research skills and contribute to meaningful insights on community empowerment and leadership.
Kerenhappuch Theruvapalli
Kerenhappuch Theruvapalli
Kerenhappuch Theruvapalli holds a postgraduate degree in English Literature from Bharathiar University, where her research focused on literary journalism. She is currently pursuing an MBA at the same institution. Influenced by a family legacy of service—her father in the NGO sector and her mother in education—Kerenhappuch brings strong values of servant leadership to her work. She has interned at The Hindu, contributed to feature writing, and led literary initiatives as a student representative. Her multilingual skills and leadership training through the NCC Air Wing Cadets further enhance her profile. As a young researcher in the Servant Leadership in Action project with Global Peace Let’s Talk, she combines academic rigour with a deep commitment to values-driven service and nonviolent communication.
Freya Jhugroo
Freya Jhugroo
Freya Jhugroo holds a BA in Spanish and International Relations from the University of Exeter and a Master’s in Global Affairs from King’s College London. With three years of teaching experience across primary and secondary education, she brings a strong foundation in communication and engagement. Freya is deeply passionate about research that centres marginalised voices and explores underrepresented perspectives in global discourse. As a young researcher in the Servant Leadership in Action project with Global Peace Let’s Talk, she is excited to contribute to inclusive, meaningful research and strengthen her commitment to values-based leadership and community development.
