Youth Action for Just Peace - Participating group leaders meet at Pamunugama YMCA

Youth Action for Just Peace is the latest initiative of Pamunugama YMCA to mobilise young people to get involved with Peace and Justice Activities. Under this new initiative supported by the APAY (Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs) Pamunugama YMCA will work with several groups representing different parts of the Island. 

Initial discussion with the participating groups was held on 26 January, 2017 at the YMCA with the participants from Batticaloa YMCA, Jaffna YMCA, Folk High School Past Pupils group, Pamunugama YMCA. 

During the meeting, the project and its activities were introduced to the groups and agreed upon the time frame for the activities. YMCA of Pamunugama will meet all the groups in their local areas before the national level camp to be held in April, 2017.

YMCA of Pamunugama thank all the participants who came from Batticaloa and Jaffna for this meeting. Group had a fellowship dinner following the meeting.  

Folk High School Students completes their service in Hiriwpothana and Gomarankadawela

10 students and 1 teacher of Sunnfjord Folk High School in Norway participated several activities together with people in North Central and Eastern Province.

They from 18 - 21 January they had home stays with 5 families in Horowpothana. During the stay in Hiripowthana they helped farmers with field work and conducted a programme for children in the area.

From 21t to 24th they spent time in Gomarankadawela and participated in Englis teaching sessions in the Medawachchiya School. Programme was coordinated by the YMCA of Pamunugama.

Forde Folk High School students in community service

Group of 10 students from Sunnfjord Folk High School in Forde in Norway are currently in Horowpothana. They will stay in Horowpothana with farmers families attached to YMCA life agriculture Project till 21st January and then will move to Gomarankadawela and stay till 25th. During their stay, they will engage with community work with farmers and children in those areas.

Today the students helped a farmer to harvest nuts.

Youth Action for Just Peace - Youth initiative for a just society

Steering Committee Meeting on 11 January, 2016 @ YMCA

Youth Action for Just Peace is a project conducted by the YMCA of Pamunugama with the support of Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs through the National Council of YMCAs of Sri Lanka. Under this project Pamunugama YMCA will work with 6 different groups covering different parts of Sri Lanka. 


During the six month short project the following objectives are to be achieved together with the participating groups.

• Create an awareness on the need for Just Peace for peaceful co-existence and development of persons and the nation.
• Support the reconciliation process required with the cessation of 30 year conflict in the country.
• Create a network of peace workers in the local YMCAs and other youth groups.

Under this project a National Conference to be organized in April 2017 to educate and develop the skills among young people enhancing their capacities to become the Agents of Just Peace in their local communities. Following the National Event, the groups will be supported through the project to organize local level initiatives. 

As the first step, the steering committee met with the participation and leadership of young people of Pamunugama YMCA on 11 January, 2017. Leaders of participating groups are scheduled to be met on 26th January to further discuss and arrange the future activities. 

Visit of Bronnoysund Scout leaders

Ms Kirsten and Mr. Jens Kristian are scout leaders of Bronnoysund YMCA YWCA Scout group. They are currently on a personal visit to Sri Lanka to attend the wedding of Lahiru who is a Scout leader of Mpratuwa Island Rovers troop which is the friendship group of Bronnoysund Scouts in Sri Lanka. Kirsten and Jens visited Pamunugama on 10th and 11th. During their visit they met several of their friends, scouts, guides, staff of Pamunugama YMCA and Pre-School kids.

Gifts for new year for the children in need

Youth and staff of Pamunugama YMCA visited Pamunugama Children's Home on 06 January, 2016. As usual they brought gifts along with them for the girls who live in this house (over 50 orphans live in this house).

Pamunugama YMCA thank Ms Sharmina Niles who lives in Australia for sending gifts for the children with the support of Christian community there.

Year ends with get-togethers

Pamunugama YMCA ended the year with get-togethers. Children members of the YMCA had their year get-together on 22 December 2016 and the adult members and youth members had their year end get-together on 23 December, 2016. 

Members enjoyed the events where they played party games, sang songs and had dinner together. Around 35 children members and 35 adult members joined the events. Gifts were distributed among children's members and gifts to the winners of games also were awarded. 

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