Transition Initiatives: Sri Lanka Hot Topics April 2004
OTI Exchange Program Brings Multi-ethnic Youth Together
OTI grantee Eastern Rehabilitation and Relief Organization (ERRO) has recently completed three local youth exchange programs in Ampara district. In the first program, Tamil and Muslim youths (equal numbers of girls and boys) visited Sinhalese youths and spent one night in their homes. The youths managed to overcome the language barrier between them and conducted a joint “shramadana” (community service) program in a pre-school in the Sinhalese village. The second program brought Muslim and Sinhalese youths to a Tamil region, where they spent the night in the homes of their Tamil youth counterparts. They carried out a shramadana program in the nearby Hindu temple. In the third program, Tamil and Sinhalese youths visited Muslim youths and also spent the night in their homes. They, too, conducted a shramadana program on the mosque premises. During the time spent with each other’s communities, the youths were able to transcend linguistic barriers, build relationships and learn some of their counterpart’s language. On the final day of all three exchange visits, there were emotional scenes when the youths parted. Since returning home, many of the youths have maintained their contacts with each other through letters, telephone calls and even text messages.
Multi-ethnic Group Assists Resettlement of Communities
OTI grantee Lion’s Club of Trincomalee recently began a simple benefits-of-peace project that provides sanitation facilities for a resettled Sinhalese community. However, an inter-ethnic dimension was added by purposely enriching the ethnic mix of the vendors who are providing goods and services to the beneficiaries. First, the Muslim vendors supplying materials to the beneficiaries have voluntarily offered to deliver materials directly to each house to help facilitate construction. In addition, Tamil laborers are helping the Sinhalese families excavate the sites for the facilities. Finally, a local Sinhalese brick maker from whom OTI is purchasing building materials greeted OTI staff members who were visiting the site and said “thank you” in Tamil using the traditional Tamil gesture of respect. All three ethnicities are reaping the benefits of peace and peaceful co-existence through this project.
OTI Grantee Fosters Inter-ethnic Bonds
OTI/Sri Lanka grantee SSEDO has been conducting a program that brings together Muslim and Tamil women to give them new skills that will expand their self-employment opportunities. Although the women regularly meet in a neutral location for the program, lingering concerns about security and travel from one area (Tamil) to another (Muslim) makes interacting outside of class difficult. Using their own funds separate from the assistance provided by OTI, the grantee has created situations where these young women can mingle. One such opportunity was created last week when the head of SSEDO brought all of the young women on a peace pilgrimage to Trincomalee. Among the locations they visited were places of worship significant to Hindus and Buddhists. Because many of the women had never before been to Trincomalee, their enthusiasm was tremendous. By many reports, the newly-formed friendships among the young women are flourishing.
Art and Drama Spotlight Peaceful Coexistence
OTI grantee Integrated Community Development Organization (ICDO) recently completed a Peace Mural project in the multi-ethnic divisions of Gomarankadawela and Morawewa. The murals were painted on the sides of schools and other public buildings depicting the effects of war and peace. ICDO is now building upon the Peace Mural project by holding drama performances on peace and peaceful co-existence at seventeen schools where the murals are displayed. The performances target youth, their parents, principals, teachers and nearby villagers. The drama troupe itself is from a nearby high school with a predominantly Sinhalese student body where the Tamil language is a required subject. The performers are Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim students from the school, who perform in both languages. Audience members from nearby communities attending the performances have approached the grantee to hold similar dramas in their areas.
OTI Hands Over Fishing Equipment to Ampara District Fishing Societies
Over the past week, OTI’s Ampara regional office staff have been handing over equipment to a number of fishing societies in Ampara district. The handover events were organized by the Kalmunai, Karaitivu, Thampaddai and Thandiyaddi fishing societies, all of whom received boats, outboard motors, fishing nets and other fishing-related equipment. The events were well-attended by members of the public and government officials. Government officers in particular expressed their appreciation because this is the first time in the history of these fishing societies that such equipment has been gifted. Up until the present, the fishing societies have been unable to optimally tap existing sea resources. With the provision of this equipment, their members are expected to enjoy an increase in the amount of their catches and a corresponding increase in incomes. Increased user fees that will flow to the societies will enable them to obtain even more equipment, thus spreading the benefit to a wider number of community members.
Street Theater for Peace Ahead of Elections
In the run-up to the parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka, OTI supported the Sri Lanka Human Rights Foundation to stage a series of street dramas to sensitize ordinary citizens to peace-related issues and strengthen the public’s awareness of the benefits of peace. The dramas continued after the election to help mitigate any potential post-election violence. The police showed their support by helping to secure the location of each performance. There has been positive feedback from a range of people, including businessmen, civil servants, doctors, etc., and the public has requested that the performances be continued in other areas. Most citizens queried said that they initially thought the street dramas were the work of a political party contesting the election. However, as they watched the performances, they realized that the message was focused solely on peace and not on the political campaign.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C.: Rachel Wax, Program Manager, 202-712-1243, rwax@usaid.gov
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