Pamunugama kids joined the National Children's Gathering 2012

Guest at the opening ceremony

15 Kids from Pamunugama YMCA attended the "Future is Ours" National Children 2012 organized by the National Council of YMCAs of Sri Lanka.
Programme was held at the Boys Town - Ragama from 14 - 17 December 2012. There were 193 children representing 18 YMCA covering the entire nation attended the gathering while there were 15 from the YMCA of Pamunugama.
Kids enjoyed various programmes and activities and they got the opportunity to contest in a track event sport meet and in the cultural show.
Anuththara from Shehan from Pamunugama YMCA won second places at the singing and speech competitions respectively.
YMCA of Pamunugama dancing group performed at the opening ceremony of the Children's Gathering as an invited group and the children's club girls danced at the dancing contest.

Running hard for the YMCA

Shehan from Pamunugama during the speech contest

Pamunugama leaders together with other leaders helping out the kitchen

YMCA Children show their talents at the Annual Christmas Concert

Dancing group performing

Children of the different departments of the YMCA of Pamunugama jointly held the annual Christmas Concert on 08 December at the YMCA main hall. Children from the Pre-School, YMCA Dancing Group, Children's Club, Girl Guide group performed their talents at the concert.

Entire programme was organized by the children under the guidance of youth leaders and the pre-school teachers of the YMCA of Pamunugama. Around 200 villagers were among the audience. Most of them were parents and family members of the YMCA children. Rev Fr. Cloud Wanigasinghe of the Kepungod St. Anthony's Church attended the event as the chief guest while several board members and YMCA members were among the invitees.

Dancing group of the YMCA of Pamunugama performed two special dances while the children of the Girl Guides and the Children's Club performed dances, Carols. There were several dancing acts of the Pre-School kids on the stage. All the children were given gifts for the Christmas at the end of the concert.

Pre School teacher lighting the oil lamp

Rev Fr Cloud Wanigasinghe addressing the event

Pre School kids

Children's Club members

Kids having fun at the end of the show

Crib made by children

YMCA youth on the road campaigning for Water Rights

Muditha and Aruna together with Ravindra (event convener)

Right to water has been one of the main discussions of the ICY group since recently. Group of Civil Society activists gathered at the Fort Station - Colombo yesterday (28. Nov, 12) to sign a public petition to the government opposing the new water policies which is going to be implemented at the provincial council levels. New policies will limit the accessibility of poor frames to water as water will be priced. 
We believe that by doing this only the rich people and big companies will have access to water in the future specially for farming purposes and the situation of the poor farmers will be even worse.
Following the petition signing a leaflet campaign was started around 4 pm to educate the public on the situation. Five youth from the YMCA including four from the ICY group of the YMCA joined the campaign giving away leaflets to the public.

International Exposure for more ICYs from Pamunugama

Meeting with Asker Scouts

Three youth from the ICY group of the YMCA of Pamunugama visited Norway as a part of the ongoing exchange programme between ICY Oslo and the ICY group of Pamunugama. During their visit they had meetings and programmes together with the ICY group of Oslo and the YMCA YWCA Scout group of Asker.

Ranshani, Sudeepika and Niko were the youth who got this international exposure. During their visit they attended an International Seminar in Oslo on Economic and Environmental Justice. Further they had a meeting with the Y Global Director Mr. Fredrik Glad-Gjernes. There was a meeting with the Asker Scouts in Asker where Pamunugama youth educated Asker scouts on Pamunugama and its programmes. Pamunugama youth were hosted for several dinners at Asker.

We thank the ICY Oslo and Asker YMCA YWCA Scouts for hosting Pamyunugama youth and these kinds of programme helps a lot to enhance the capacity of youth in the YMCA.

Photos: askerspeiderne.no

Stop crimes against humanity in Gaza

We, the members of Internationally Committed Youth (ICY) group of the YMCA of Pamungama are shocked to read, hear and see the brutality in the attacks by the Israeli forces targeting Gaza strip this week. The Palestine issue which has been dragging on for more than 60 years  has taken its toll by way of massive destruction of life and property  where Palestine people are at the receiving end.

The ongoing air strikes by the Israel forces has only added more numbers to the destruction and  this time more children have lost their life. Military attacks are just one part of disturbing the lives of the Palestinians while the upcoming Israeli settlements in Palestinian lands is destroying the dignity of the Palestinians by displacing them on their own land.

We are surprised to observe the silent strategy of world leaders and of those who voice out and stand for human rights at this crucial hour. Therefore we call upon all the powerful  nations in the world to look at this situation from a human perspective.

We call upon all the people in Sri Lanka and elsewhere to protest against the inhuman treatment the Israel government has let loose upon the Palestine people by avoiding all economic dealings with Israel.

At this hour we share our heartfelt sympathy with the families of the air strike victims and all the people of Palestine and we pray for their freedom which is being deprived to them by Israel. We believe the divine  justice will be done unto the suffering people of Palestine at the end of the day and our hearts are with you at this difficult hour.

We as an organization based on Christian values we request all the Christians in the world to consider Palestinians as our own brothers and sisters and stand together with them in their difficult times as a way of showing our loyalty to God according to Romans 13:10: Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Internationally Committed Youth (ICY)

YMCA of Pamunugama - Sri Lanka

Pamunugama ICYs join with Moratuwa youth for environmental justice

As a follow-up action agreed at the ICY International Seminar, the youth of the YMCA of Moratuwa organized an evening gathering to educate more youth on environmental justice. Around 50 people gathered for the session and 10 youth from the YMCA of Pamunugama also joined the event.

Mr. Ravindran Kariyawasam who was a facilitator for the ICY International seminar facilitated the event. Youth were mainly educated on water right issues and the environmental issues due to mass scale deforestation for economic crops. Participants were further educated on the development plan for next 20 years which has done without any proper impact assessment.

YMCA of Pamunugama thanks the YMCA of Moratuwa for inviting and hosting the YMCA of Pamunugama youth at the programme and look forward to a continues partnership.

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.

ICY works for Environmental Justice

ICY group of the YMCA of Pamunugama together with the ICY group of Oslo organized an International Seminar on Environmental Justice. World is changing very fast disturbing the nature massively. People have started to see consequences of the changing nature. Specially the poor, and marginalized suffer mainly but the day that everyone irrespective of cast, country, power, wealth sufferers not far away. It has been visible in many instances lately. It is the youth who can change the world and the knowledge is what leads for action for  a change.

Opening ceremony

International Seminar was held from 26 - 29 October, 2012  at the Willys Safari Hotel at Wasgamuwa. Event was started with a small opening ceremony and the theme was introduced on the first day evening. On the second day, more discussion continued on the Environmental Justice issues. Later of the day there was a session on the responsibility of people as individuals and as groups for environmental justice. Number of issues related to the subject were discussed during the day and different methodologies were used for training the participants. There were small lectures, group activities, drama, songs and presentation among the activities of the event. Apart of those activities participants went on a exposure visit to a nearby village where they visited paddy filed which has effected from elephant-human conflict. During this exposure visit youth spoke to the villagers and  gathered first hand knowledge. Human elephant conflict, water rights, mining, deforestation for tourism and economic crops, use of chemical fertilizers for farming were among the main issues which were discussed. Following the dinner Norwegian ICY members had a presentation to introduce the Stop Poverty Campaign. This campaign was introduced by the YMCA YWCA Global (YMCA YWCA International arm in Norway).

Promoting nature through creativity

On the third day of the seminar group went on a Safari to Wasgamuwa Reservation. During the safari group stopped by the Mahaweli River for lunch. On the last day participants planned the follow-up activities and the youth from Moratuwa YMCA is in the process of organizing the first follow-up meeting on 17 November 2012. Mr. Lakpriya Nanayakkara (activist), Mr. Ravindra Kariyawasam (activist), Ms Wardani Karunaratne (environmental lawyer), Mr. Prasanna Peiris (activist) facilitated the activities of the seminar while several YMCA leaders (Aruna and Shelton) assisted with translation and other arrangements. There were youth from Matara, Moratuwa, Galle, YWCA and Pamunugama and Oslo attended the event. All the participants were awarded a cettificate for participation at the end of the seminar. 

Participants from Norway

Mr. Ravindra Kariyawasam facilitating a session

Norwegian participants introduced the Stop Poverty Campaign

During Safari

Exposure Visit

Photographs : Aruna Pathirage

Visit of ICY friends and Asker Scout from Norway

At the village in East

ICY Exchange Programme is an annual event of the ICY group of the YMCA of Pamunugama. YMCA Pamunugama jointly conduct this programme with the ICY group of Oslo with the financial support of the Norwegian Children and Youth Council (LNU). 

Four Norwegian youth including three girls representing ICY Oslo (Lisa-Marie, Mathilde, Ingvild) and a boy representing the YMCA YWCA Scout group of Asker (Stian) visited Sri Lanka from 22 October - 01 November, 2012. During their stay group visited and spent a day at a village in the Eastern Province where YMCA of Pamunugama has a programme center. Norwegian youth visited the YMCA cooperative farm and they got the opportunity to talk with the people of the village and to experience their day-today life.

On a tractor at the YMCA farm (Photo : Lisa-Marie)

From the farm youth continued their tour to Kandy where they visited the Dalada Maligawa which is a main tourist attraction. From their the group extended the tour to Wasgamuwa to join with other YMCA youth from Sri Lankan to attended the ICY International Seminar.

Before the departure the ICY group visited Colombo and met the National General Secretary of the National Council of the YMCAs of Sri Lanka (NCYSL) at the NCYSL office. Before the ICY Oslo group left they hosted a dinner for the YMCA of Pamunugama friends and had a evaluation meeting. It has been a great pleasure for the YMCA of Pamunugama to hosts visitors from partner groups and according to visitors, they were happy with what they have learn about Sri Lanka and the Environmental Justice which is the theme for the ICY programme for the year 2012.

Celebrating birthday far away from home(Photo : Lisa-Marie)

Ron & Jessica (Volunteers for Resource Mobilization) visits Pamunugama

YMCA of Pamugama thanks Mr. Ron Coulombe and Ms. Jessica Rown for visiting the YMCA of Pamunugama on 15th October, 2012. They came to Sri Lanka to conduct a Workshop for the members of the YMCA movement in Sri Lanka on Resource Mobilization. Forllowiing the workshop they visited number of YMCAs all around the island. During their visit to Pamunugama they shared important tips on how to mobilize members and resources within the YMCA for a better service towards the community.
During the visit Mr. Ron and Ms Jessica met the children members of the YMCA and appreciated the service of the YMCA toward the community in the area and wished best for future initiatives....

Nature Tour for YMCA children

YMCA of Pamunugama is going through a chain of events celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the National Council of the YMCAs of Sri Lanka. Today (06. 10. 2012) a group of children from the Children's Club and the Girl Guides went on a boat trip to explore Muthurajawela situated close to Pamunugama. Muthurajawela is a famouse Marshland. This is bordered to the Negombo lagoon from one side. 

15 Kids and 8 leaders started their journey from the YMCA around 7.30 and reached the Muthurajawela Conservation Center around 8.30. From there the boat trip was started in two hired boats. Kids enjoyed the guided tour where they got to see several kind of birds, fish and reptiles. It was a very nice trip through the Hamilton Canal before the boats entered the Negombo Lagoon. Then the boats stopped at a small island to have breakfast and a break.


Around 12.00 pm group returned back to the Muthurajawela Conservation Centre. Kids enjoyed the each and every second of the tour as it was full of both fun and knowledge gaining. This trip was organized as a gift for YMCA children for the Universay Children's Day which felt on 01 October, 2012.

Thank you Taniya and May God Bless You!

Taniya Jayamanne resigns from the YMCA after a dedicated service of 7 years since 2006.  

Small farewell gathering for Taniya was held on 1 October, 2012 at the YMCA. Several YMCA members and staff attended the event. We the YMCA of Pamunugama appreciate the great contribution she has made to the YMCA of Pamunugama and to the entire YMCA movement.

People leaving for greener pastures is not something strange - yet not easy to bear.

You are one who has given the best for a cause - the cause of the YMCA.

You have worked with dedication making sacrifices all the way.

You have worked hard in realizing the goals which you too believe worthwhile.

Your efforts have brought good results for those who expect services from the YMCA

and honor and respect for the YMCA while promoting its purpose.

You have the qualities of openness, perseverance, fearlessness and humbleness.

All these will be helpful to you  in building your life into a strong family.

We believe the YMCA too added many good things to your life enriching it.

You will be correctly rewarded for what you have given for the others.

You have set your mark in the YMCA records as a girl - a dedicated girl.

Mere words of thanks will not suffice to compensate a person's hard-work.

Therefore, please believe we have an appreciation for you in our hearts and minds.

You will be remembered and be a subject of discussion in the YMCA activities for a long time to come.

God Bless you for the good work you have done.

God Bless your life and future bringing success in all good things that you (both) do.

New Group of farmers joins YMCA for Organic Farming

Group of YMCA leaders (7) of the YMCA of Pamunugama visited Gomarankadawela and Ottichchakulama areas last weekend (28-30) October. Group spend the first night after a exciting drive through the heavy jungle on either sides of the road on the way to Ottichchakulama. Small gravel road leads to Ottichchakulama is full of Elephants during night time. 

YMCA leaders spend the night at the community center built by the YMCA after a nice chat with villages under the shade of moonlight. Next day morning group visited the YMCA work in the village including farming wells and organing farming. People of Ottichchakulama are been going under a tough time due to ongoing drought.

Next day morning group visited the Extra Educational classes at Medawachchiya Maha Vidyalaya supported by the Come-Share Foundation and coordinated by the YMCA of Pamunugama. Then the group proceeded to the Moragama Village. Moragama is a village where people being replaced after the war under the second phase. This village has not been supported by any NGO or any government institution. They are living under difficult circumstances due to the ongoing drought in  the area as well. YMCA distributed farming equipment worth Rs 3,000/= during this visit to 25 families in the area. Rev. Sumanasara the incumbent of the Medawachchiya temple accompanied the group for the visit to these families and Mr. Nalin and Mr. Lakpriya joined with the YMCA to share their knowledge on organic farming during the entire visit.

Guides and Pre-School Kids day-out

Pre-School kids with teachers

An an annual event, Girl Guides and Pre-School kids have their one-day picnic. This year also they went this trip on 15 September, 2012. Destinations for their trip this year were  Ratmalane Air force museum, Dehiwela National Zoo, and Viharamaha Devi Park.

Museum was interesting for kids where they had the chance of visiting model planes and many more old planes used by the Sri Lankan Air Force. Highlights of the Dehiwela Zoo the Elephant Dances.
10 girl guides joined this trip while there were 14 preschool kids along with their family members joined the day-out. All the kids enjoyed the day.

Elephant Dance

Girl Guides

Future of fishermen and tourism in Negombo

Mangroves are the most precious tree in any lagoon environment in Sri Lanka and in many tropical countries. This precious tree is in danger due to massive infrastructure developments with the raising tourism in the country especially around the Negombo lagoon.
As a result of the Web casting Workshop organized by the National YWCA, team consists of young people from YMCA and YWCA produced the following video on "Future of Fishermen and Tourism in Negombo". This video expresses the views of the communities affected in the area; a lawyer and an activist in Negombo contribute their views on the same issue.

YMCA takes Peralanda Prefects to the top!

Following the NCYSL 50th anniversary theme "Taking Youth to the TOP" Pamunugama YMCA organized a leadership training programme for the prefects of Peralanda St. Joseph Secondary School on 15 September, 2012 at their school. 28 Students joined the event and number of aspects of leadership was discussed and students were equipped with various leadership skills.

Dr. Duglas Hettiarachchi attended the event as a resource person for a session on identifying problems of the school while the other activities were conducted by YMCA Pamunugama leaders.

Training was followed with a colorful campfire with number of campfire activities where more students and teachers attended. Principal of the school thanked and appreciated the support extended the by the YMCA in making the event a success. All the children were awarded with a certificate for their participation.