Following the project completed in September 2022, SAPRI devoted the following period, October 2022 onwards, to carry forward the concluded project by transferring ownership to the key participants of the projects and encouraging them to assume leadership roles, and, in turn transfer ownership to the communities.
During the post-project period, SAPRI was pleased to see the realization
of the project aspirations without SAPRI’s direct involvement and the targets
SAPRI and the funding Embassy looked forward to becoming realities.
Women Local Government Members (WLGM) in the four project districts,
Ampara; Galle; Kurunegala; and Vavuniya led their respective communities in
conducting varying programs with the objectives of empowering women; and
building unity and harmony.
While reporting to SAPRI the successful outcomes of their respective
projects, the stakeholders commended SAPRI for the skills development and
capacity building provided to them and the training they received from SAPRI
which motivated them to go to the community with confidence and engage the
communities of varying background; ages; gender; religions; ethnicities; etc
and achieve positive results.
Attached are the Reports of the following activities
conducted in Sinhala and Tamil, which were translated into English and edited
by the SAPRI staff.
1.
Building entrepreneurship among
women in the community
2.
Empowerment of Women: Awareness
Raising on Women’s Rights in Divorce
3.
Developing the bond between
parents and children
4.
Awareness raising workshop on
“Violence against Women”
5.
Empowering women in the
community
6.
Economic empowerment of women
7.
Empowerment of
the Elderly in the Community
8.
Vesak Bakthi
Gee (Devotional Songs) by Children of Multiple Religions
9.
Iftar event for youth
to mark the Ramadhan Festival
10.
Iftar event for Adults, Youth and
Students
11.
Introducing Thai Pongal to
pre-school students
12.
Pre-school concert item introducing different
ethnicities & religions
13.
Muslim and Sinhala Youth offering
food together during Vesak
14.
Celebration of Esala Poya Day with
participants from multiple religions
15.
Celebrating
the Diwali Festival
16. Reconciliation through Street Drama
Activity 1 – Building entrepreneurship among women in the community Led by former Local Govt Member Ms. Sithy Niloofa
District- Ampara
Date
and venue- Training in entrepreneurship from 1 June to 31 July 2023,
in different locations in Samanthurai Pradeshiya Sabha area
Participation- 40 Women in Samanthurai
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Objective - The program had four targets, i.e., enhancing women’s
entrepreneurship; reconciliation leading to unity in the village; addressing
domestic violence; and the elimination of the use of drugs. The proposal
to establish a new market was the core of the program, to steer the achievement
of the four objectives. The venture is being closely monitored for a
three-month period by the trainers of the program.
Description of activity – Training in entrepreneurship was conducted from 1 June
to 31 July 2023, in different locations in Samanthurai Pradeshiya Sabha area.
The hands-on training focused on developing entrepreneurship skills of the
selected 40 community women and thereafter enabling them to be competent on
running a new market that was to be set up, to be run by women, with the sale
of products of women given priority.
Outcome - With the training in entrepreneurship that the women received they were
able to handle the work of the market with confidence and competence.
Therefore, the market became a successful venture economically. A requirement
of the program being multi-religious participation in the venture, the program
was leading to reconciliation and unity in the village. The independence and
financial stability gained by the women entrepreneurs strengthened their
personalities and they were able to handle domestic violence situations better
than previously. The training also provided the women participants with
knowledge in drug abuse; their negative effects; and prevailing legal measures,
to initiate measures to control the use of drugs in their communities.
Activity 2- Empowerment of Women: Awareness Raising on Women’s Rights in Divorce Led by Former Local Govt Member Ms. Sithy Niloofa
District
– Ampara
Date and venue- 10 June 2023 for 6 months, Samanthurai Pradeshiya Sabha area
Participation- 30 Women Leaders from Key Women’s Organisations in the area, were selected for training after careful evaluation.
Objective- Awareness Raising of their legal
rights during a divorce process for women who are in divorce proceedings in
Samanthurai.
Description of Event- The 30 women leaders who were selected for training have
2-day workshops in theory, and, practical measures related to legal rights of
potential women divorcees. After their training is over, the 30 women leaders
will spread out and conduct programs for women who are contesting divorce
proceedings across Samanthurai.
Outcome- The program is ongoing. The outcome is expected to be empowering women
who are in divorce proceedings in Samanthurai by raising awareness of their
legal rights. This process will be a confidence building measure for the women
activists as well and will give them a morale boost in handling matters in an
assertive manner.
Activity 3– Developing the bond between parents and children
Led by Local Govt Member Toroshani Niluka Sooriyaarachchi
District- Ampara
Date and
venue- May 2023,
Ampara Hotel
Participation- 50 parents and their children,
ages 14 -18, from Sinhala
and Muslim communities
Objective- In
view of the increasing abuse of children in the communities and the children going astray due to unstable home
environments, an event was organized to enhance the bond between parents and
children, by identifying prevailing issues and shortcomings that obstruct their
required close relationship, and, seeking measures to build a close
parent-children link, leading to a reduction of child abuse. The activity
intended to emphasis to both parents and children the importance of their close
association and the negative repercussions due to the absence of this vital
bond.
Description of the event- The activity took place as a seminar at Ampara Hotel.
The participants were addressed by Mr. Prageeth Lasantha, a leading Psychologist, on the necessity for a close parent-children
relationship. The participants thereafter sat as a group in a circle for an
interactive session. Through carefully crafted questions the Psychologist elicited
from the parents
and the children, the manifestations/instances of lack of respect
towards each other and the occasions when each party felt an absence in the
carriage of duties towards them by the other party. The participants thereafter
were called upon to articulate what they considered as necessary ingredients to
build trust and confidence to maintain a parent-children bond.
Outcome- A series of recommendations emanated from the seminar for fostering a
better relationship between parents
and children, and, the participants expressed their commitment to adhere to those recommendations to maintain a better children-parents
relationship. The children spoke on the
level of security they felt by being close to their parents, as well as the confidence they gained to talk with their parents
on any issue threatening
their well-being. The parents too gained an insight into winning the children’s
confidence and maintaining a close link with them, to avoid negative instances
thereafter.
Activity 4- Awareness raising workshop on “Violence against Women” Led by former Local Govt. Member Toroshani Niluka Sooriyaarachchi
Amapara
District
Date and
venue- On International
Women’s Day (March 8th) 2023, at Ampara Hotel
Participants- around 30 women participants (age
25-55)
Objective- To mark the International Women’s Day while creating awareness on, Violence
against Women; the means of identifying when violence is perpetrated; avoiding and handling such challenges; measures to handle
perpetrators legally; and knowledge of legal measures.
Description of the event- The program was organized in conjunction with
International Women's Day. Its main objective was to educate rural women on
instances of violence against women that are not even noticed or considered as
violence as most rural women were not aware that they were being subject to
violence even at home. As most women in
rural areas like Ampara are not adequately educated they are not aware of their
legal rights. The activity was the first step in addressing the issue and the
organizers intended to follow up with similar awareness raising sessions in the
future.
Outcome- The participant women becoming aware that violence against them can be
perpetrated at almost any place, eg. public locations, public transportation or
even at home. They also became aware of what steps to take in such situations
to protect themselves and to bring the perpetrators before justice. The
activity instilled the confidence in them to go to the Police Station and/or
the Child & Women Protection Authorities and make a complaint. The
participant women expressed their desire to share the knowledge they gained
with other women in the community, thereby disseminating the information to a
wider range of women.
Activity 5 – Empowering women in the community Led by former Local Govt Member Ms. Indra Irangani
Ms.
Indra Irangani speaks on ‘ Necessity to include sex education in school
curriculum Facebook link- https://fb.watch/mwjOmpiheA/?mibextid=cr9u03
Galle District
Date and venue- From July 2023 (ongoing program), in Ambalangoda electoral district
Participants- Girls and women, approximately 50 participants for each
activity
Objective – To empower women in the community economically and through
building their self-esteem. The activity organizers expected to raise the
economic level of the community women through the introduction of
self-employment avenues and thrifty measures. They also attempted to enhance
the awareness of the women participants towards violence against women, child
abuse, and, women’s and children’s rights.
Description of activity- Conducted as workshops within Divisional Secretariat
areas. Trained Women Activists were the resource persons. The workshops focused
on two areas, 1) introduction of self-employment means, enabling the
participant women to be financially independent, resulting in their enhanced self-confidence
2) Building awareness on topics such as violence against women, child abuse,
women’s and children’s rights, etc.
The workshops provided a venue to the participants to have collective
dialogue through which they were able to share their experiences, focus on
preventive means and discuss remedial measures.
Outcome - Increased awareness among women on the economic challenges they may face
in the society and how to overcome them, and, motivating the participants
towards actively contributing to protect women’s and children’s rights.
Activity 6- Economic empowerment of women Led by former Local Govt. Member Ms. Irosha Chandani
District- Galle
Date and venue- Since 2021, ongoing, Rathgama
Participation- 10 carefully selected financially
unstable women. Age between 20 -55
Objective - Former Local Govt. Member Ms. Irosha initiated the activity
to financially empower a group of economically destitute women in her community
by introducing to them small scale self-employment projects.
Description of activity- Self-employment initiatives such as making, ekel
brooms; coconut charcoal; candles; etc. were introduced to the group of
economically deprived women in order to teach them a new skill and enable them
to make a living. In some instances, their contribution was only to a part of
the work, such as providing raw material for the products, eg. collecting/purchasing
coconut shells and selling the items for the production of coconut charcoal.
Outcome – Gaining skills towards self-employment and learning marketing skills for
handling the sale of their products. The result is the development of their
financial stability as well as that of their families.
Activity 7 - Empowerment of the Elderly in the Community Led by former Local Govt Member Ms. Mallika Dharmasooriya
District-Galle
Date and venue- Ongoing
since 2022, Working with a Women Elders’ Society, i.e.,
“Weeramatha Elders Society”, Dodanduwa
Participation- 62
elderly persons from both genders
Objective – Empowering
the elderly persons at the “Weeramatha Elders Society” to strengthen their
capacities, both physical and mental; involving the elderly in community
activities, thereby boosting their confidence; and encouraging the elderly to enjoy
a positive approach towards life and contribute to the community in any possible
capacity.
Description of event-
Supporting the elderly participants in varying activities in order to enhance
their capabilities and confidence by engaging with other societies and
individuals in social work, e.g., shramadana activities to keep the environment
clean; preparing costumes and other items for events; organizing varying
celebrations, etc.
Outcome – Enhancing the capacities of the elderly persons and enabling them to have a positive approach towards life and establishing and maintaining contact by the elderly with the community. Enhanced support towards community activities has graduated them from the status of care receivers to care-givers.
Activity 8 – Vesak Bakthi Gee (Devotional Songs) by Children of Multiple Religions Led by Community Leader (Ms.) Mohamad Hilmy Noor Maziyya
District- Galle Date and venue: 05.05.2023- Galle, in a moving vehicle
Participants: 16
children - Buddhist, Catholic, Muslim and Hindu (Both girls and boys)
Objective- To build
harmony among a group of children belonging to the four main religions in Galle
by arranging their participation in the Vesak celebration. The non-Buddhists
were expected to get an exposure to Buddhism; the significance of Vesak: and
Buddhist religious traditions, as well as enjoy a close intimacy with the
Buddhist children during the period of rehearsals and the performance on Vesak
day.
Description of Activity- The
students who sang Bakthi Gee were selected from Olcott Maha Vidyalaya, Galle.
The project progressed with the support of the school Principal who assigned a
teacher to conduct the rehearsals with the assistance of the activity organisers.
students. teachers and parents.
After the opening ceremony attended by
multi-religious dignitaries, the Bakthi Gee singers commenced their travel from
the entrance of the Galle Expressway, towards the Galle Municipal Council in a
specially prepared, decorated motor vehicle. They stopped at pre-arranged
locations to sing for the benefit of the people awaiting them.
Outcome- The
activity was well received by people of all religions and the warm welcome with
which the singers were greeted was unparalleled. The non-Buddhist students and their parents
learnt about Vesak, the most sacred celebration of Buddhists. Also having spent
much time together, they formed longstanding friendships.
Prominent on this occasion was a young
Muslim girl dressing up in “Lama saree”, a traditional attire among
Sinhalese-Buddhist girls, with her parents, happily assisting her.
Activity 9- Iftar event for youth to mark the Ramadhan Festival Led by Former Local Govt Member Ms. Nishanthi Pradeepik
Mr Naazik speaking at the event-
Facebook link- https://fb.watch/osjeWjrggD/?mibextid=Nif5oz
District- Galle
Date and venue- 09/04/2023, Galle Fort, an outdoor event
Participation- around 50 Muslim and Buddhist youth participants, male and female,
who are members
of Youth Societies in Galle, Kadawath Sathara
area.
Objective- To introduce to the group of non-Islamic youth present on the
occasion, Ramadan, a key Islam
religious celebration, its significance and its cultural manifestations,
leading to awareness raising
among non-Muslim youth groups on Islam religion and its traditions.
Description of event- The Iftar event was organized by Ms. Pradeepika, and the
Galle Kadawath Sathara Divisional
Secretariat. Ms. Pradeepika’s community member Mr Naazik and other Muslim youth provided the input into the
event from a religious/cultural perspective. The interaction of Islamic
and non-Islamic youth was significant on this occasion.
Outcome – Non-Islamic participants getting an exposure to the
significance of Ramadan, and their
direct participation in the Iftar ceremony together with the Islamic youth gave
them a knowledge on the level of
fraternity that exist during such events and the harmony that these events promote.
Activity 10- Iftar event for Adults,
Youth and Students
Led by Former
Local Govt Member Ms. Nishanthi Pradeepika
District Galle Date and venue- 11 April 2023. Jumma Mosque, Galle Fort
Participation- around 150 adults, youth and students belonging to all
religions. A Buddhist Monk, Christian priest and Islamic Moulavis were present
on invitation.
Objective- To introduce to approximately 150 persons in Galle, a
predominantly Buddhist area, Ramadan, a key Islam religious celebration,
its significance and cultural manifestations, leading to awareness raising and appreciation
of co-existence, transcending religious boundaries.
Description of event- The event was organized by the Divisional Secretariat with
former Local Govt. Member Ms. Pradeepika, playing a key role. She was
instrumental in staging the event inside the Jumma Mosque in Galle Fort. The
presence of a Buddhist Monk, and a Catholic priest and their blessings to the
event provided added significance to the occasion.
Outcome- The participants’ exposure to an important Islamic religious event held
in the mosque itself, with Buddhist and Christian clergy as well as Moulavis, was
a positive outcome. Above all, the event provided an opportunity to the
non-Islam participants to be welcomed inside a Mosque for the first time in
their lives.
Activity 11- Introducing Thai Pongal to pre-school students
Led by former Local Govt Member Ms. Sandya Kumari
District
- Galle
Date and venue- 18/01/2023, Manula Preschool, Yakkalamulla, Galle
Participation- 30 students of the preschool (both girls and boys) and 05
mothers
Objective - To introduce to the participating pre-school students the
Hindu religious celebration, Thai Pongal, its religious
significance and cultural manifestations.
Description of event - The activity introducing Thai Pongal to the students was
woven around the food item related to Thai Pongal, “Pongal Rice”, which was
prepared at the venue by the mothers, with the children assisting.
Later they enjoyed eating the Pongal rice. Stimulated by the extremely
sweet Pongal rice, the students thereafter joined their teachers and the
parents in a discussion on the importance of the Thai Pongal celebration.
Outcome - The children got exposure to the Thai Pongal festival, held, according
to Hindu religion, to worship the sun for the bountiful harvest it helped to
provide during the year. Thus, they learnt about a new religious tradition
through Pongal Rice, a food item linked to a different culture and prepared and
eaten on a specific occasion.
Activity 12- Pre-school concert item introducing different ethnicities & religions Led by Former Local Govt Member Ms. Sandya Kumari
District- Galle
Date and venue- 21/12/2022, Manula Preschool, Yakkalamulla
Participation- 30 Students of the preschool (both girls and boys)
Objective – To introduce to a group of multi-religious children the main
religions in Sri Lanka, i.e., Buddhism; Hindu; Christianity; and Islam, and convey
to the children the religious observances of each religion and the teachings of
each religion briefly.
Description of event- This was an item they presented in the school concert with
effective role playing by the students. Models of venues of religious worship, i.e.,
Buddhist temple, Hindu Kovil, Catholic church and Mosque built by parents were
displayed on the stage.
Children were divided into five groups. Four groups were
dressed up to resemble the clergy of the four main religions respectively. The
fifth group resembled visitors who paid a visit to the four venues of religious
worship. The students who posed as clergy at each religious venue explained to
the visiting group of students the main features of the respective religion and
introduced the different means of worshipping at each religious venue.
Outcomes- Exposure to the four main religions in the country, the religious venues
and means of worshipping at different religious venues, for the preschool children.
Activity 13 – Muslim and Sinhala Youth offering food together during Vesak Led by former Local Govt Member Ms. Gayani Deepika
Date and venue- 5th May 2023, Mummana Village, Pannala
Participation- 10 - 15 Buddhist youth and the same number of Muslim youths
organized the event, about 300-350 men and women stopped by to partake of the
food offered.
Objective – To pave the way for Sinhala and Muslim youth to get together
in Mummana village, where ethnic/religious tension had prevailed some time
back. Through the initiation of an event with the joint participation of
Sinhala/Muslim youth, in a community where ethnic tension had prevailed. it was
expected to restore the harmony that was visible before the tensions erupted.
The activity also expected to introduce to non-Buddhists the significance of
Vesak, the most sacred Buddhist religious celebration; how Vesak is celebrated
in Sri Lanka; the rituals and traditions associated with the celebration.
Description of event- A Dansala (food stall) serving cookies
and fruit juice free of charge to those participating in Vesak celebrations was
organized by Ms. Deepika near Mummana Village, a predominantly Muslim village,
assisted by Muslims as well as Buddhists in the area. The dansala was located
on the way to the Buddhist temple, therefore it attracted a large number of
people who stopped by to be served with food.
Outcome- Developing friendship between Muslim and Sinhala communities in Mummana
area. This is considered a very positive outcome as the two communities,
although they lived in harmony many years ago, in the recent past religious
tension pervaded in Mummana creating hostility. The dansala paved the way for
friendship and harmony to revive between the Sinhalese and the Muslims. In
addition, noble intensions such as the desire to serve food to people on
pilgrimage as well as the needy came to the forefront with the organizing of
danasals.
Activity 14 - Celebration of Esala Poya Day with participants from multiple religions
Led by former
Local Govt Member Ms. J. A. Somawathi
District- Kurunegala
Date and venue- 1st August, 2023, Kuliyapitiya
Participation- Clergy from multiple religions; Officials of the Divisional
Secretariat; Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Kuliyapitiya and other senior
Police Officers; Civil Society Members; community activists; youth and students
Objective- To introduce to a group of multireligious persons the
significance of Esala Full Moon Day, the day on which Buddha preached Buddhism
for the first time, in Isipathana, a small town in India. The occasion intended
an amicable gathering of persons of different religions, and, besides giving an
exposure to the Esala Full Moon day’s significance, it targeted the creation of
friendships among those from multiple religions.
Description of event- Through a lantern built under Ms. Somawathi’s direction for
the Kuliyapitiya Esala Celebration, an initiative was made to gather people of
multiple religions to see the lantern. Large
numbers were present to watch the colorful opening ceremony which had the
presence of Ms. Somawathi, former Local Govt Member and the Police Chief of
Kuliyapitiya, as well as the beautiful lantern. The Buddhist monks present
explained the significance of the occasion.
Outcome of event- Creating awareness of the Esala Full Moon Day and the
preaching of the first dhamma sermon by Lord Buddha, among community members of
all religions. The event witnessed new friendships forming among those that
gathered on that occasion.
Event 15- Celebrating the Diwali Festival
Led by Former Local Govt Member Ms.
Niruba Sachiththanandan
District –
Vavuniya
Date
and Venue- 08.11.2023 at Maha Karuna Private School, Vavuniya
Participants – Pre-school students, senior students,
parents, teachers and community leaders representing all religions; government
officials; and a group of Singaporeans who supported the event participated.
Objective
– To introduce to the participants the
Diwali celebration, a Hindu religious event, which is the festival of lights, symbolising the
spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over
ignorance.
Description of event – All those present enjoyed the traditional lighting of
lamps and partaking of Diwali food served on the occasion. Community members
and the officials spoke at the event commending the introduction of a Hindu
religious event to a large number of non-Hindus and emphasized that such
multi-religious activities bring unity and reconciliation to the community.
Outcome – Exposure to a Hindu religious event for non-Hindus and the Singaporeans present and learning about, the victory of light over darkness, ………that the event symbolized. The children present got the experience of a new religious tradition while the Singaporeans were overwhelmed with the harmony that pervaded throughout the multi-religious event as well as the unity that emanated from the event.
Activity 16- Reconciliation through Street Drama
Led by Community
Leader Vijayaseelan Sanjeewan
District- Vavuniya
Date and venue: 15th November 2023, Chettikulam Division
Participation: 10 male and female performers and approximately 300 members
of the audience
Objective: To promote reconciliation through performances of street
drama in Forum Theater style. Also, to enable interaction among community
members of different religions. The expectation of the organizers was to promote
the theme “Although people belong to different religions, they are all humans”
and “they should be considered children of one mother”.
Description of Activity: The drama was performed in Forum Theater style focusing
on the necessity to promote reconciliation. Its duration was 20 minutes. The plot
of the drama included a group of tribals living peacefully on an island. A
group of outsiders from a business community arriving on the island in search
of treasure and interfering with the quiet life of the tribals causing tension
among the tribals and destroying their unity. Later the tribal leader was able to reunite the
tribe and get rid of the intruders. Peace returns among the tribals.
At the end of the presentation the performers and the
audience had an interactive discussion on finding gaps and improving the
presentation and did so by making changes to the script.
Outcome: The close interaction among the participants, led to making new
friendships, building of trust and learning about creating peace and harmony in
society. Through the drama, the message of reconciliation went deep into the
minds of the audience.
