Pamunugama YMCA family celebrates Easter in a special way

16 youth and adult attended the YMCA of Pamunugama Easter service held on 10. April 2011 in the evening at the YMCA of Pamunugama. Service included a song meditation which elaborated the meaning of Easter. There were prayer sessions as well. Dilanka led the song meditation and adult women leaders led the prayers in between. The participants appreciated the service as it compelled them to think differently on the life and death of Jesus. They admitted it was a different kind of experience which the traditional services are unable to present.

NCYSL hand in hand with YMCA of Pamunugama to assist flood victims

YMCA of Pamunugama is in the process of signing an MOU (Memorandom Of Understanding) with the National Council of YMCAs of Sri Lanka (NCYSL) to support the flood victims of Ottachchakulama (East) and Horopathana (North Central). Under this MOU the NCYSL will assist YMCA of Pamunugama with providing funds under 4 phases. Initially the dry rations will be provided to to families having hardships and 100 students will be given with educational assistance providing them with stationary and uniforms to continue their schooling. 20 houses are planned to be repaired under the 3rd phase and finally 100 families will be supported with livelihood assistance.

Educational programmes 

Paddy fields destroyed by floods

Thousands of people in Gomarankadawela area lost there livelihood and number of houses were damaged during the flood recently. Specially number of new farms which were assisted by YMCA of Pamunugama went under water during the flood and completely destroyed.

Pamunugama Scouts Leaders on a hike

Scouts department of the National Council of YMCAs organised a hike in the Kanneliya Forest Reserve in Galle from 18 - 20 March 2011. There were 4 scout leaders, Pramudu, Asela, Nirmala and Sudeepi joint the hike representing YMCA of Pamunugama. At the moment YMCA of Pamunuga is in the process of promoting scouting in the Wattala branch of the YMCA Pamunuga and in the Gomarankadawela area where YMCA conducts several development programmes.

More leaders from different YMCAs were expected for the hike, but unfortunately only 9 scouts representing Negombo and Pamunugama YMCAs joint the hike. YMCA of Pamunugama would like to thank National Council for organising such out door activities for local scouts leaders which will enhance them with experiences and the ability to face challenges in the their scout carriers.

Pamunugama YMCA youth to work with “Logos”

Ship “Logos”, world’s largest floating library ship will be here in Colombo harbor from 4^th April to 9^th May this year and the YMCA is going to work closely with the staff of the ship during their stay in Sri LAnka. Two of our youth Shivankara and Tanya have been selected to work in the ship while Nisala (youth member) will join a youth programme in the ship. Meanwhile YMCA of Pamunugama is arranging the following programmes pararel to this event together with the crew members.

10 April - Musical programme

11 April - Beach cleaning Shramadana

12 April - Children and youth camp

Successfull visit to Norway

Three delagates from YMCA of PAmunugama including President Shelton Peiris, General Secretary Ranjith Fonseka and the ICY Coordinator Dilanka visited Norway from 3rd March 2011 to 12th March 2011. Main purpose of the visit was to attend a meeting together with ICY Oslo delagates to plane out a joint project proposal to be submitted to the Norwegian Youth and Children Council for up coming three years.
Group spend 3 days with intense meeting from 4-6 March at Y global office planing the proposl. After the meeting group visited scouts friends in Brønnøysund for 3 days and returned back to Asker Scout partner friends for a 3 day programme where they were hosted by Asker Scouts.
During the visit group got the oppertunity to discuss further on the future plans for partnerships and briefly met the new International Director of the Y global of Norway as well.

Visit to the flood hit friends in Gomarankadawela

08 - 11 February President Shelton Peiris with Dilanka (Youth leader) accompanied the visitors from Norway (2 delegates from Førde Folk High School) and China (youth) to Horowpathana. Although they wanted to go to G'kadawala it was not possible due to floods which has made roads impassable. We had to turn back at Horowpathana. However, we were able to witness the damage done by the  floods. Houses damaged, cultivations destroyed, villages seperatedfrom the rest of the country, etc.. We handed over provisions worth Rs 54,000. to Rev. Piayarthana Thero of Horowpathana to be distributed among the victims. Earlier we delivered provisions to the value of Rs.32,000. to be districbuted among the Ottachchakulama victims through Rev. Sumanasara Thero of G'kadawala. We even assisted Thuraineelavanai YMCA with 50 school bags for their nursery kids (Rs.12,000.). In these efforts were supported by the NCY, Bronnoysund scouts and Asker scouts.

• Visit of Ms Jorun Knapstad and Mr. Rider of Norway

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