YMCA of Pamunugama: GCI Field Visit in Pamunugama

Saturday, August 20, 2016

GCI Field Visit in Pamunugama

Participants of the Global Citizenship Institute (GCI) Programme participants are currently having their field visit in Pamunugama area. YMCA of Pamunugama is hosting the field visit. GCI is under the Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and GCI programme is an annual event to raise awareness on globalization and to train young people to become global citizens.

During the field visit, YMCA of Pamunugama is trying to educate the participants on various global and local issues effecting the community in Pamunugama.

Field visit started on 19th August Friday with an presentation and a dialogue on the proposed Financial City to be build in the see in Colombo. Mr. Ravindra Kariyawasam an environmentalist gave a comprehensive presentatation on the background and enviorenmental impact on the proposed project while Rev Fr Sarath Iddamalgoda who is an leading activist in Sri Lanka explained the group about why this project negatively effect to the people in the community and the political rationals behind this project. Mr. Aruna Fernando who is a Fishery Folk leader explianed on the negative impact towards fishermen from this project.

Participants arrived at the Pamunugama YMCA on 20th Saturday morning. Day started with an orientation to the Pamunugama area, home stay and the work of the Pamunugama YMCA. Mr. Aruna Nonis facilitated the orientation. Following the orientation group visited a local harbor project in the area which has only contributed to the sea erosion.

Then the group had lunch together and settled in the 4 houses where they are going to be hosted for next couple of days. In the evening group joined with a Field Visit in the Negombo lagoon. During the boat trip in the lagoon GCI participants witnessed the pollution taken place in the Negombo lagoon and the mass scale deforestation of Mangrove plants. Fishing in the Negombo lagoon during the boat trip also was a novel experience to the group.

On Sunday 21 August, 2016 group spent the morning with the families where they were hosted. After the having lunch together with Pamunugama YMCA leaders the group spent time playing cricket with Pamunugama YMCA youth. Later in the evening group had two meetings with a fishermen leader and a local politician in the area.

Pamunugama YMCA thank APAY and National Council of YMCAs Sri Lanka for giving the opportunity to facilitate the field visit.