Stay of Peace Makers from Sunnfjord Folk High School in Sri Lanka

In Hatton

The programme for the students of  Peacemaker Class of SFHS, Norway  was designed and conducted for 11 students for a period of one and half months (approximately 50 days) in Sri Lanka. The purpose of having this programme is to give experiences to young students to become peacemakers wherever they live in. Sri Lanka was identified by SFHS as the venue for this visit in order to create space and opportunities for the students to understand and learn its realities in connection with pre-war, war and post war situation, different social, cultural, religious and economic realities.  

The 50 days prograamme in Sri Lanka was designed based on following main thematic areas. 1. Contemporary social realities in Sri Lanka 2. War, reconciliation and peace,  3. Poverty, human rights and good governance . 4. Youth , Women and Children 5. Tea Plantation Community in Sri Lanka and their lives 6. Kamman Folk High School 7. Farming and Environmental Issues 8. Village family life 9. Religion and religious practices 10. Students and education 11. Sightseeing and holidays

Here are the voices of Peacemaker Class students: 

Helping villagers to clean Pamunugama beach

• “The world is much more unfair than I thought and this is the time for a change” 
• “I have seen a lot of differences within the country by myself” 
• “I have learned so much more about myself and discovered the side didn’t even know I had” 
• “ People are suffering and subjected to many hardships. The hardships are  more than I thought” 
•  “ Sri Lanka is a beautiful country , may be one of the most beautiful countries in the world.” 
• “ I  have to work to change the differences in the world. I am a different person and I have a different way of thinking now.” 
• “Peace is not just ABSENCE of WAR, It has many dimensions” 
• “I never experienced this much in my life. This made me a better person and a STRONG person” 



During the Farewell Dinner

• “I realized how little effort is needed for a CHANGE.”  

YMCA of Pamunugama thank Ms Jorun Knapstad and Dilanka Fernando of Sunnfjord Folk High School for choosing the YMCA of Pamunugama as their partner in this programme and the staff (Aruna and Priyan) for being responsible in facilitating the programme.   

(Summery taken from the Final Report of the Coordinator, Mr. Aruna Nonis)