On 19 September 2026, 45 women from the village gathered at the YMCA of Pamunugama Main Hall for an awareness programme on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), organized by the youth of the YMCA together with YMCA staff.
The event was part of the project Youth Action to Prevent GBV, carried out in cooperation with the National Council of YMCAs of Sri Lanka.The session was facilitated by Mr. Aruna Shantha Nonis, a long-standing YMCA member and trainer. He guided the participants through three key topics:
Understanding Gender: How society shapes the roles and expectations placed on women and men.
- Understanding Harmful Gender Norms: how deep-rooted beliefs and traditions can limit women's opportunities and contribute to discrimination and violence.
- The Importance of Women's Empowerment: why empowered women strengthen families and communities, and the practical steps women can take to empower themselves.
The programme was not only a lecture. Group activities and open discussions gave the women space to share their experiences, ask questions and learn from one another. These conversations turned ideas into real-life understanding and encouraged participants to see themselves as agents of change.
At the end of the programme, the group agreed to work with the YMCA and to use it as a centre for their empowerment. This decision shows the trust the community has placed in the YMCA and the women's readiness to continue learning and growing together.
The event was organized by young people, which shows what youth can do when they take action on issues that affect their communities. Preventing GBV requires the involvement of everyone, and the YMCA is proud to see young people leading conversations that challenge harmful norms and build a safer, more equal society.
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