Girl Guides and Children's Club explore Sinharajah

Members of the Children's Club and the Girl Guide Group of the YMCA of Pamunugama joined with a trip to Sinharaja Virgin Rain Forest on 27 & 28 August 2014. They went this trip as their annual trip.

During this visit group spent the first night at the Forest Department Bangalow and the next day morning they went into the forest with a guide who explained the surrounding and the importance of the Sinharajah Forest.

During the trip they had the opportunity to join with a special lecture on environment and to meet Mr. Martin who is a 90 year old genius on the Sinharaja Forest. 

This trip was organized with the support of the Forest Department Office in Gampaha and the 3 officers of the Gampaha District Forest Department Office also joined the trip to educate children. Two mothers and 3 YMCA leaders accompanied the children.

Exploring Sinharaja

Awareness Building Sessions on Sinharaja

Peace Tour - Christian Fellowship and Brotherhood experienced At the YMCAs of Vavuniya & Pandateruppu

The Peace Tour started from Pamunugama YMCA on 15 August at 05.00 am with 25 youth representing the YMCAs of Matara and Pamunugama and youth from Moratuwa.

The youth from Batticaloa could not join the programme due to a communication problem for which the Pamunugama YMCA apologisesd to the Batticaloa YMCA.

The first stop was at the Vavuniya YMCA for lunch.

Mr. Solomon, President of the Vavuniya YMCA has organised a welcome for the youth from the south together with his colleagues, youth club members and the staff. The Christian fellowship was experienced by all gathered through sharing a meal followed by music with the Vavuniya YMCA young musicians. After lunch the President, who was the Additional Director of Education (Vavuniya Zone)  shared his knowledge and experience about the problems faced by the youth in Vavuniya. He was of the view, although a development  in infrastructure, education and employment is taking place, still the people are not completely find it peaceful in their minds as the effects of war are troubling their minds. A new problem is raising its head in the area in the form of  drug menace. The most affected by the war – women and children are still trying to find out their future among the broken pieces of hope and happiness.

It was around 05.00 pm when the Peace Tour reached Pandaterruppu where they were warmly received by Ratnavel  Master of the Pandateruppu YMCA. The youth were accommodated at the YMCA and Master’s house itself. After the dinner the purpose of the Peace Tour was further explained and the details of the programme on the following day was discussed.

16 August 2014

A Shramadana was conducted  to clean and paint the nursery house of the YMCA and the electricity connection was supplied to the satisfaction and happiness of the Pandateruppu YMCA community. The nursery is serving 38 children  assisted by 3 instructors.

After completing the shramadana work the youth were taken round the peninsula to see the life of the Jaffna people. First they visited the Budhist shrine at Dambakola Patuna where Sangamiththa Terani supposed to had landed with the Sacred Bo Tree. From there they proceeded to Karainagar and saw the Naguleswaran Hindu Temple. Finally the youth enjoyed the opportunity of bathing in the famous Casurina Beach.

Final Session

Dinner was followed by sharing of experience.

Ratnavel Master shared his experience in building up the Pandateruppu YMCA. How they started as a sports club (same as the Pamunugama YMCA) ; raising funds   for their community work through renting out chairs and cutlery. Their main service to the community has been and is suppoting the farmers – especially through a seed onion bank.

YMCA building was constructed in the land of 35 perches donated by Ratnavel Master. Funds came from the earnings through renting out chairs and cutlery. When they approached 50 farmers for a donation of one cement bag each the farmers responded with 10 cement bags each. Such was the reputation earned by the YMCA.

During the national crisis period (1979-2009) people including Ratnavel Master had to leave Pandateruppu and live elsewhere. Ratnavel Master went to Kilinochchi and worked for a German NGO (CNH). He has been looking after 150 children either orphaned or separated from their parents; facing hardships including lack of food and health-care and living in bunkers. They were lucky to get hold of food items left by WHO staff  who left in haste to save themselves.

Finally the army took the children to an IDP camp and on their way to the camp the vehicles were attacked wounding several including Ratnavel Master  and killing two people. At the camp the children were helped to find their parents and a few whose parents have either dead or fled found shelter in an orphanage.

The youth were alarmed to hear the sharing and expressed their respect to the Master and thanked him and the members and staff  of the Pandateruppu YMCA for keeping up the  YMCA flame burning through the difficult period. Finally with exchange of souvenirs and gifts for the poor students in the area and offering thanks for the wonderful hospitality  offered by Ratnavel Master and the Pandateruppu YMCA the “Peace Tour” organised by the Pamunugama YMCA ended with a sing-song fiesta.

This Programme was funded through the Peace Maker Joint Project of the YMCA of Pamunugama together with the Y Global of Norway.

Reported by

Shelton Peiris

Pamunugama YMCA

Peace Tour began today!

24 young peopler from Pamunugama, Matara, Moratuwa are on the way to Jaffna on a Peace Tour. They left Pamunugama at 5.30 am and currently on the way. They were hosted by Vavuniya YMCA for the lunch and then they will continue their journey to Pandatereppu YMCA in the Jaffna Peninsula. In Pandatereppu, they will attend a Shramadana with the Pandatereppu youth and then have a site-seeing in the Peninsula. Tomorrow will further discuss with the people in pandatereppu on developing strong bonds between two groups in future.

YMCA Pamunugama expands the micro Finance Activities

3rd group of the YMCA of Pamunugama Micro Finance Project today (13. 08. 2014) received small loans to develop their family businesses. This group has been involved with the programme for last 3 months continuously doing savings with the YMCA.

Four of the five women received loans for purchasing fishing equipment as they are from traditional fishing families in the area while the other loan was taken for a small scale pig farm. This was the last group who joined for the prgramme along with the two other functioning groups.

School Holidays - Time t to go out!

As the school vacation started the children of Pamunugama YMCA have more time to be with the YMCA and to get socialize. Various programmes and outing are planned for the month including a walk, Trip to a rain forest, movie evenings during the month.

Today the members of the Children's Club and Girl Guides went on a walk to a near by chapel in Pamunugama area. They walked 8 Km up and down. This place is a newly build chapel close to the lagoon bordered to Muthurajawela.

Children spend  for couple of hours relaxing and chatting about the months plans while having a warm tea made by them. 

Local Youth Explore about Palestine - Israel Conflict

With the rising attacks on Gaza the number of civilian causalities has risen to an alarming level. Specially the children and women are being the main victims of the devastated bombing into all kinds of buildings in Gaza by the Israel forces while the Israel complains on Hammas attacks shelling. Being the YMCA youth group, who has friends and partners in Palestine, it is hard to imagine our response in this situation.

Youth in Pamunugama YMCA organized a two day workshop to learn about the current situation as well as the root courses for this long lasting conflict. Programme was held from 25 - 27 July, 2014 at Green Bank Dungalpitiya with a participation over 20 youth. 

Programme started with a biblical sharing which clearly showed, both communities has been inhabitants of the particular land. During the programme participants were able to gather information and knowledge on the history of the conflict which goes way back. Pamunugama YMCA youth member Priyan who has been a Young Peace Performer conducted a elaborated presentation to the history of the conflict as well as  latest dynamics such as wall, settlements, detention taking place with in the Palestinian lands. 

There were two live skype meetings with two of the Young Palestinians. Participants had number of questions for these two youth where they explained the current ground situation as well as the need for an international intervention to stop ongoing killing and attacks in Palestine.

Then Mr. Ainsley Joseph, the chairman of the Justice and Peace Committee of the National Council joined the youth group to lead a discussion to compare the similarities between the situation in Palestine annd Sri Lanka. He shared important information on  the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka and he requested the young people to be awareness on these types of sensitive national matters.

Peace Maker Project supports to Develop Leadership Skills

Leadership / Prefects Training was organized for 36 students in the Gomarankadawela area on 20 July, 2014. Programme was held in Medawachchiya Vidyalaya with the participation of students from Kivulekada and Medawachchiya Schools. 

This area has been severely effected during the 30 years of war as these areas trapped between gun-battles and various attacks. Leadership qualities and skills were discussed and practicallyt experienced through variouse group activities and games during the seminar.

Rev. Sumanasara Thero the principal of Medawachchiya Vidyalaya gave fullest cooperation in organizing the event. All the students who attended the event were awarded with a participation certificates. Peace Maker Joint Project of the YMCA of Pamunugama with Y global provided the financial support to organize the event.

Getting to know each other

Together we did it

Life is all about balancing

All students received a participation certificate

Drought has disturbed the lives of Life Agriculture Project Members and Many More..

YMCA Pamunugama visited the Life Agriculture Project Members in the Horowpothana on 19th July, 2014. During this visit we were able to witness the way that they have been effected from the ongoing drought in most of the parts in Sri Lanka in North Central and Eastern Province. Their Home Gardens have dried up and the paddy fields also severely effected due to the drought. During this visit YMCA discussed with the beneficiaries on the current challenges and the future activities to be taken place under the project. 

Group requested the YMCA to organize a training workshop on Investment and Savings Group management in the future. Exposure visit also will be organized to visit to Organic farming project to gain knowledge on the subject in near future.