YMCA continues its efforts to take youth to the top

Programme group

YMCA of Pamunugama has launched number of youth events this year fulfilling the task of taking youth to the top as it is the theme for the 50^th anniversary celebrations of the National Council of the YMCAs of Sri Lanka. Latest of those events was the leadership training programme conducted for a 30 member group of students from the Kudapaduwa Sinhala Mixed School. Group was a divers group which included Christians, Buddhists and Muslims.

Students arrived at the YMCA in the morning on 13 November, 2012 and spent the day with the YMCA leaders at the YMCA of Pamungama. Leadership was discussed in different aspects using number of methodologies including discussions, group activities, games and case studies. Principal Mr. P.C.K Fernando and Ms. Hasalani from the staff accompanied the children for the programme.

Principal of the school shared his thoughts on the programme told the YMCA blog that
“Students of our school are very talented. But due to the background they live in, their mentality is backwards. I believe that this kind of trainings will train them to be more forward and eager to break their social barriers and become valuable citizens. We have a history of working with the YMCA. YMCA of Negombo has supported our school with providing library facilities, musical instruments and many other training programmes. With that relationship we came to the YMCA of Pamunugama to support us with a leadership training programme.

Michel (7th to the right)

Michel Shehani a student of the school also shared her view on the programme
I have attended a workshop organized for Sunday School students two years back. But it was full of speeches. This workshop is very much different. Mainly we have involved with many activities and we have leant through them. I am happy that I have learnt more about my school, our teachers and also about my fellow students through this workshop. I am a prefect of the school and the learning from this seminar will be very much helpful to perform my tasks as a prefect in the school.

It was a wonderful opportunity for us to come out of the school environment and to spend few hours looking back into our lives and the responsibilities which we carry with us in our lives as students. Resource persons who facilitated sessions in the programme are really good and they were very practical when they led their sessions. I like this seminar very much and recommend YMCA for any school for a programme of this nature.