ICY Seminar 2011 on Economic Justice

Opening Ceremony

“Thirst for Peace” Internationally Committed Youth Seminar 2011 was held from 8 to 11 October, 2011 at God’s Little Acre – Moratuwa. Focus of this year’s seminar was Economic Justice which is an important aspect when we talk about world peace in today’s context. 30 youth gathered for this important event representing Pamunugama, Hendala, Moratuwa, Negombo, Rambukkana, Kenya and Norway. Unfortunately we could not have our partners from ICY Oslo at this year’s seminar due to practical travel problems. But having 4 international participants from the goCY programme still made the seminar and international experience. Mr. Lakshan Dias the NGS of the NCYSL and his wife as well as Mr. Santha Fernando an executive Committee member of the NCYSL and his wife joined the opening ceremony and shared their thoughts on the programme. Mr. Dias addressing the group challenged to bring up the idea of economic justice to the National level through Executive Committee of the NCYSL for future interventions at a National Level.

Rev Fr. Sarath during his session

Programme commenced with a biblical reflection on understanding poverty and individual responsibility. Session was led by Rev. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda a Justice and Peace activist. Rev Sarath emphasized that poverty is not something that God has given and it should not be the destiny of anyone. He further mentioned that it is not the will of god.  

Mr. Santha Fernando another human rights activist facilitated a session on Poverty and Development in the Sri Lankan context. During the session group had case studies on 4 major issues related economic justice in Sri Lanka. They were “up-coming tourism, Hedging Agreement, plight of state workers and decreasing the value of US Dollar by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka”. Youth got the chance to discuss in depth on the cases and came up with a good analysis at the end.

"Trade Game"

On the next day group played game called “Trade game” which is specially designed to understand the dynamics of international economics. Groups went into groups according to the countries given to them and they had to deal with World Bank, UN and Global Visa office during the play (game). During the game they were able to realize the differences between countries when it comes to international economy.

Following the Trade Game Mr. Chamira Perera a lecture at Jayawardenapura University led an academic session on World Economy and Justice. There Mr. Chamira emphasized that it is not an easy thing to synchronize economic and justice according to the teaching in Economic Science. Further he mentioned that the aspect of justice comes with a political look. Further he mentioned that a collective involvement of civil society is needed to shape up the economy in to a just and fair one.

Two of the evenings at the seminar were spent to watch a movie and a debate. Movie was “Machang” which elaborate on youth economic issues in Sri Lanka and how they try to seek solutions. Debate brought a new spirit to the seminar where the group went into two groups and argued on the development in Sri Lanka.

Group spent final hours of the seminar sharing their thoughts and ideas for further involvements. ICY group of Pamunugama has already planned a discussion together with village men to find out the truth and issues behind a harbor project in a nearby village of Kepungoda. ICY further plans to stay behind the suggestions made by other participants represented other YMCAs for further actions for economic justice. 

Helping hand from Pamunugama to courageous people in the East and North Central

Training on organic farming

Group from PamunugamaYMCA  (Ridma, Shelton, Ranjith, Asela) visited it's service centers in Alagollewa, Horopathana (North Central Province), Gomarankadawela and Ottichchakulama (Eastern Province) from 1st to 4th October, 2011. Lakpriya and Tiron also joint the group as resource persons from MONLAR. First stop of the long journey was Alagollewa where YMCA is working to promote Organic Farming through a sustainable agricultural project. There are around 50 families involved with the project through small groups. Groups have started savings among the smaller groups and they will be provided with loans, knowledge and seeds to start farming using organic methods in the future. At the same time they will be supported with common equipment and needs such as water pumps and farming wells. 

Farmer's Well

Then the YMCA group resumed their journey to Horopathana where YMCA has provided flood relief recently. Group met  Hon Piayarathana Thero of the Horopathana temple to discuss on further assistance to repair damaged houses and provide livelihood assistance with the support of the National Council of YMCAs of Sri Lanka. Group also did visited few houses which were repaired and due to be repaired.

Green chilly Farm at Ottichchakulama

Then the group proceeded to Gomarankadawela area where YMCA has been involved with educational programmes, Scouting and agricultural programmes. Group visited 3 schools (Kivulakada, Sinhapura, Medavachchiya) in the area and met children and teachers who are involved with our educational programmes through extra classes for Mathematics, Science and English as well as scouting. At the same-time group had a fruitful discussion with Sumanasara Thero of the Medavachchiya Temple on the activities carried-out in the area.

Educational Programme at Sinhapura

Group also had the opportunity of visiting Ottichchakulama which locates 15 Kms North of Gomarankadawela. Group met farmers there and came to know about the outcome of YMCA assistance for farming. Group witnessed the success of some farmers as well as failures they faced due to bad weather. Two huge farming wells are about to be finished building and the farmers are very much hopeful that these two wells will help them to get through dry seasons in the future. Before they returned to Pamunugama group visited few houses repaired after the floods in the Gomarankadawela.


As usual the group returned home with mix feelings. From one hand it was satisfaction after seeing the amount of work done. At the other hand  the amount of work is huge to make those people liberate from their hardships. 

Pamunugama organized the Regional Camp

YMCA of Pamunugama was given the opportunity by the National Council of YMCAs to organize the Regional Camp which was successfully completed from recently from 29^th August to 1 September. Camp was organized for the YMCA scouts in the Western, Southern and North Central province. Five groups joint the camp held atAlagollewa (biggest Christian village in the North Central Province). Alagollewa was chosen for the camp as a result of connections YMCA of Pamunugama had with the Alagollewa community. 

Scouts were given the opportunity to sleep outside in the tents and scouts enjoyed meeting new friends from different groups and living outside doing outdoor scouts activities. Scouts got the chance to play, sing and learn scout techniques including knots, rally rules, whistle commands and so many other camp rules.

Theme of the camp was “Disciplined Scouts for YMCA Future Leadership”. Scouts learnt how to practice as good scouts under the guidance of leaders. Most interesting event of the camp was the hike to the Ritigala Mountain. Scouts had a tough time climbing with a bag of sand as a support for the newly coming up Stupa on the top of the mountain. But scouts felt good once they reached the top through narrow tracks and the jungle on either sides of the tracks.

Leadership Training for Hendala Youth

Pamunugama YMCA believes that the youth are the once who has to take the YMCA movement forward from today not  from tomorrow as many people say that the youth are the future. There were 14 young people gathered at the Mirigama Scout Campsite from 12 – 14 August to learn about the YMCA and ICY activities and the qualities that require to become YMCA leaders.

Programme started on 12^th Friday evening with an introduction and a discussion on the objectives of the event. Saturday the 13^th August morning, youth were given an introduction to the YMCA including the history, structure and the today’s dynamics of the movement.  Afterwards group went through a chain of activities which led to a discussion on leadership and qualities that a leader has to improve. It was emphasized that the motto of the World Alliance of YMCAs is “That they all may be one” and it is the duty of the YMCA youth leaders take the movement towards unity through their involvement in the movement.

After the lunch on Saturday there was a quiz competition and a debate which broke the shackles of some of the participants who did not want to talk much at the beginning. After dinner the group spent some quality time listening to few songs that communicate great messages about social justice and love.

Sunday the 14^th was the last day of the programme. Group discussed about their future plans for the year and tried to synchronize with the ICY plans for the year and agreed for a common programme. Apart of the ICY events group agreed to conduct a book fare to mark the Literature month in September and a “Sramadana” in November to clean the cemetery and a Christmas programme in December.

Programme was led by Pramudu, Ridma and Shelton the president of Pamunugama YMCA and Sangeetha the Hendala Programme Branch Coordinator extended her fullest support by arranging the practical matters.

Youth discuss on Media

30 youth from YMCA of Pamunugama, Hendala Programme Branch and nearby schools attended a one day workshop on youth and media. This was organized by the ICY group of the YMCA of Pamunugama on 30 July, 2011 and Mr. Siyon De Alvis a senior consultant facilitated the day. Objective of this event was to educate young people on how the media challenges young people with their economic and political agendas. Further it was mentioned that a media has to be responsible and able to create a change in the situation they deal in order to become a social media. Mr. Siyon took few examples from how the media mislead the youth in Sri Lanka today.

Mr. Siyon challenged the participants to be analytical when we receive information through media and to use media in every possible way to create a change in the situation specially within organizations like YMCA.

This event gave the opportunity to promote the work of the YMCA among the students who joint this programme as their first YMCA event. We believe this was just an opening to continue the discuss n the same in a wider and bigger scale.

YMCA team visits service centres in the dry zone

YMCA team visits  service centres in the dry zone.

5 YMCA leaders including the President, General Secretary and 4 youth visited Gomarankadawela and Alagollewa areas in connection with the following programmes from 9 - 11 July, 2011.

Demonstrating the Pedal Pump

1. Introducing Pedal Pump to farmers

YMCA of Pamunugama is in the process of supporting farmers in Ottachchakulama and Alagollewa areas who are restarting their livelihoods after the war which lasted for 3 decades. With the support of Don Bosco Institute Pedal Pump was introduced to farmers in the villages of Alagollewa and Ottachchakulama which will enable them to irrigate their agricultural activities. 

2. Organising a YMCA group at Alagollewa

Meeting with villagers at Alagollewa

At the request of Fr. Mahendran an introduction to the YMCA was made for the village Community of Alagollewa. The villagers were enthusiastic and expressed their willingness to start a YMCA in the village and a committee headed by Mr. Robert was appointed to organise the would be members.

3. Starting scouting at Alagollewa.

Fr. Damian Fernando, the Principal of Alagollewa school requested for assistance in introducing scouting for the students. Accordingly a training session for the students was conducted for the students to understand the preliminaries in scouting. 30 students participated.

4. Monitor programmes at Ottachchakulama

Agricultural activities.

The farmers whose efforts were washed out due to floods at the beginning of the year have restarted their activities with renewed hopes and requested the YMCA to help them in completing the work on two agricultural wells.

Agricultural wells

Two wells were dug  and need to be completed with the brick work. The YMCA will have to raise funds for the purpose.

Construction of Community hall

Community Hall

The construction of the community hall has reached the roof level. Once the roof is in place  the farmers will have their own place for their meetings and other common programmes.

5. Educational Programmes at Gomarankadawela

The classes for Maths, Science and English are been continued for the O/L students of the schools at Sinhapura, Kiwulekada and Madawachchiya. A new programme for teaching English for the students of Grade 3 and 4 has been introduced recently at the same schools.

6. Scouting in Kiwulekada school

The scouting started at Kiwulekada school is progressing and in this matter the Scout Master at the Madawachchiya school is extending his support.

7. House repair at Horowpothana and Madawachchiya

House to be repaired

18 houses damaged by the floods in Horowpothana and Madawachchiya have been selected to be repaired. The repair work has been started and soon the affected families will have a roof over their heads.

Rev. Sumanasara Theto and Rev. Piyarathana Thero are extending their fullest corporation and support in this programme.

8. Assist Alagollewa school

At the request of the Principal of Alagollewa school, Fr. Damian Fernando, the YMCA assisted the school to have its electricity connection enabling the students to acquire computer knowledge. All this time they were denied of this facility as the computer lab has been kept closed for want of electricity.