New Year Game Festival

Annual New Year Game Festival was held on 08 April, 2018 at the YMCA of Pamunugama. It was organized by the youth club of the YMCA with the support of Board Members and the staff. Around 20 different games were held for children in the village and YMCA Pre-school under different age categories and several New Year games for youth and adult also were included in the event event. Over 250 children and villagers participated to the programme. Blind hitting the pod, eating buns, catching eggs, dragging rope, counting the seeds in the papaya, finding the coin and giving eye to the elephant were the highlights of the event. In Sri lanka the New Year is celebrated on 14 April, 2018.

Pre School kids celebrates new year traditions.

Pre School kids of the YMCA of Pamunugama had their new year celebrations prior to their new year vacation on 06 April, 2018. As a symble of prosparaty the kids boiled milk in the classroom together with two teachers. Then they enjoyed the New Year Sweets.

Song and life - Musical programme

Song and life is a musical programme organized by the YMCA of Pamunugama together with the Born to Win Relationship Institute on 01 April, 2018 at the YMCA of Pamunugama Main Hall. 

During the programme an invited group of singers led by the Music Teacher of St. Mary's College Pitipana sang 10 songs. Panel led by Dileepa, Roshani, Quintus and Ridma have selected the songs and also explained the meaning and the background stories behind the selected songs. Aruna Nonis of Pamuugama YMCA moderated the discussion among panelists and the audience. 

Objective of the programme is to encourage people to listen to rich music and to promote a culture of quality entertainment. There were around 40 people among the audience. This programme became a reality with the generous financial contribution of S. Amitha Sumanadasa living in Italy. 

Munich / Pamunugama Cultural Evening

Last event of the Pamunugama Munich joint Easter Mission Programme was the cultural evening. During the colorful evening both Pamunugama YMCA members and 4 youth leaders of Munich YMCA performed several acts including dances, singing, drama and a German quiz competition. There were a crowd of over 100 attended to witness the performences. Munich YMCA friends also offered a special bun made in the German style to all the people who came to watch the show. 

Drama, Sri lankan dance performed by Munich were the highlights of the event. During the programme a muc printed with a picture from the Mission camp also presented to Munich friends as a taken of gratitude for all the good work they did together with Pamunugama YMCA during the entire programme. 

Mission Camp with young people

Group photo

Pamunugama YMCA together with Munich YMCA volunteers conducted a Mission camp for young people on 24th and 25th March, 2018 at the YMCA of Pamunugama. There were 21 participants including 4 youth from Moratuwa Island Rovers Group, 2 from Union Church, 4 from Colombo YMCA, 9 youth of Pamunugama YMCA and 4 young Board Members of Pamunugama YMCA.

Programme started with a opening session where the participants were welcomed and introduced themselves and explained the programme schedule. On the first day, there were sessions about God's love, prayer, Holy Spirit and the relationship between God and us. There were several group discussion about the topics based on gospel as well as a training session on different methods to read the bible. In the evening there was a worship time where the participants took part in activities including singing, praying and repenting.

Sunday morning there was a group discussion about life challenges. Relationships, self-confidence, media and iconography were the topics. Final session of the event was to understand the Christian Mission in the YMCA and to make some plans for the future. Participants expressed their willingness to continuous learning about the gospel and Jesus. Bible reflections, activities for youth, usage of social media to discuss about gospel were among some of the suggestions. Both Pamunugama YMCA and Munich leaders were impressed by the response of the participants and their willingness to learn the gospel. Some of the discussions were very encouraging and interesting. Pamunugama YMCA thank all the groups who sent participants for the programme and tireless efforts of Munich YMCA leaders to make the camp a success.

Opening session

Anna leading a session

Bible reading sessions

Game evening

Different activities conducted under the Mission Programme

With Pre-School kids

Following the leadership training for YMCA leaders on Christian Mission, the Munich volunteers engaged in several activities. 

On Monday 19 March 2018 they spent time with the children of Pamunugama YMCA Pre-school. Then they went to the beach to experience the daily life of the fishermen in the area. In the afternoon they joined a boat trip in the Negombo lagoon. The day ended with a bible study together with some leaders of Pamunugama YMCA.

On 20th and 21 March, 2018 the group joined a trip to Atanwala in the Matale District to enjoy the nature and the rural life of Sri lanka. 4 members from Pamunugama YMCA also joined the trip. During the visit group went on a hike to Manigala, enjoyed the river bath and had a devotion on the great creation of the Lord.

On 22nd there was a game evening together with the children members of Pamunugama YMCA. Munich volunteers played Frisbee, Indiaca and Kubb.  Children enjoyed the evening very much. Meanwhile the group also had rehearsals for the Cultural event to be held on 26th March, 2018.  There was another bible study session with the leaders of Pamunugama YMCA later in the evening.
 

Hiking in Atanwala

Host family in the Atanwala villege

Game evening