Puttlam District, Sri Lanka - Many Muslims who were displaced during the country's decade-long civil war are living in the Puttlam District of northwest Sri Lanka, and RYS-Sri Lanka is inviting local and international youth to help build a community center in the villages of Kalpitiya and Mahawewa December 15 to 21.
A proud history!
Religious Youth Service in Sri Lanka has a proud history of actively promoting innovative peace projects and programs for more than a decade. Since 2000 RYS Sri Lanka has organized projects annually, reaching out to people from all walks of life, even when the country was passing through the turbulent time of civil war that ended in 2009. RYS-Sri Lanka has taken bold steps to strengthen the peace process in this multi-cultural island nation. RYS has been inspiring the youth to think high, dream big, and work together for a united, harmonious, and peaceful world. This year’s project aims to give wings to that dream.
Sustainable peace for a sustainable future
RYS Sri Lanka 2012 will be held in Kalpitiya and Mahawewa, two nearby villages in the Puttlam district of the North Western Province of Sri Lanka about 200 km from Colombo. The population of around 86,000 includes thousands of internally displaced people from the war-affected areas of the northern and eastern parts of the country during the ethnic conflict who were resettled in Kalpitiya and elsewhere in Puttlam district. RYS is planning to build a much-needed community center for the villagers in Mahawewa. This building will be useful for them to hold meetings, self-help programs, family functions, cultural activities, and social celebrations. This is a village with a multiethnic population of about 5,000 families. Their average income per family is around US$7.00 per day.
Kalpitiya and Mahawewa
The RYS project is scheduled for December 15 to 21 will accommodate 40 volunteers (including some international participants) from diverse cultures and religions. An internationally renowned trainer with decades of experience will serve as the educational director of the project. Participants will take part in a classic RYS leadership program, including team-building exercises, lectures and interactive sessions, interreligious sharing, sightseeing, and community service through fieldwork. Kalpitiya is part of a breath-taking seaside tourist destination along the Puttlam Bay, renowned for snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, fishing, sea cruises, dolphin watching, etc. Sri Lanka’s only coal power plant is also situated in the close proximity.
Let us join hands together for a better tomorrow!
As the new year is around the corner, we invite you to become a part of the beginning of a new progressive and prosperous year with this tiny village community. Let us serve each other and share our resources with the lesser privileged among us!
For more information contact Dr. Chula Senaratne, Secretary General, UPF-Sri Lanka
Telephone: 0094112509265 / Mobile: 0074777327022
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To read about past RYS projects in Sri Lanka, click here.