Youth for Change- PBN FAMILY Project-2017
Launching of the Project
With the higher aim of ‘Enabling war affected youth to discover their potential to build peace and reconciliation within themselves and among the community’, the Project Proposal submitted to the Bicentenary Organizing Committee by the Jaffna Province PBN Family was approved to be the first project of the PBN FAMILY. The acceptance of the project is seen as an impertinent move in reaching out to the vulnerable sisters and brothers without any distinction, in a specific manner by the PBN Family which is advocating for peace and justice in a volatile world as a positive step in making Communion possible.
The project was launched on 22nd Jan. 2017 with the project presentation and discussion that took place in the Jaffna Provincialate under the leadership of Sr.Christa Mariathas, Unit Leader, Jaffna. 28 members participated including 04 Lay Associates, 03 Priest Associates, 02 Seculars and 19 Apostolic Sisters. Mrs. Regina Ramalingam, Coordinator of the Lay Associates of Asia, presented the project, emphasizing on achieving tangible RESULTS to bring about the expected change in the lives of the war affected youth in the project areas.
The Project Purpose “Creating Awareness among 150 selected youth (unemployed, disabled, rehabilitated, orphaned...) in two villages in Pooneryn in Killinochchi District, on social sustained life style in one year” was clarified and understood by the participants.
The Progress
- Besides the Project Team headed by Sr.Labora Croos as the Coordinator, Teams were formed based on the Results to effectively and efficiently carry out the functions. 07
Teams were formed as follows:
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ACTIVITIES |
Responsible |
|
1. |
Identifying youth in the 02 locations |
Sr. Nevis Sr. Josephine Mr. Devanayagam |
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2. |
Group formation |
Sr. Genova Sr. Elizebeth Miss. Pathma |
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3. |
Conducting life skill educational programmes |
Sr. Rewathy Sr. Jayanthi Sr. Mariamalar Fr. Nicholas Mrs.Regina |
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4. |
Providing one to one counselling support to identified youth |
Sr. Christabel Sr. Venikkala Mr. Michel |
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5. |
Providing recreational and reading facilities to the youth |
Sr. Theophan Sr. Thaya Ms. Aruljothy |
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6. |
Livelihood support to selected youth |
Sr. Josephine Mary Fr. Jemes Mrs. Patrick Sr. Jeyanthi |
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7. |
Exchange visits |
Sr. Arul Sr. Nivetha Fr. Michael Mrs. Regina.R one Contemplative |
- Roles and responsibilities of every team was discussed, clarified and accepted.
- Deadline was given to submit an ACTION PLAN by each team and already they have submitted it
- The Action Plan was scrutinized by Sr.Labora and Ms.Regina Ramalingam with an overall clarification by Sr.Christa Mariathas and has been approved for action with necessary changes.
Activity 1. Identifying youth in Mallavi and Jeyapuram
Identifying the target group is a priority and has been started by the respective team with the support of the project team.
- The team has already visited both the project locations and have made preliminary investigations and introductions with respective authorities and the Parish Priests of both the villages.
- The Grama Sevakas-GS(Village Authority) and the Divisional Secretaries-DS have welcomed the initiatives by the PBN Family which is not present in their villages. They have offered their fullest support to the project.
- As mentioned in the project proposal since there is the presence of the armed forces, gathering of the youth is not much welcomed, and hence the GS as the first step introduced us to the parents and elders of the community in order to explain the nature and benefits of the project, so that they would play a role in convincing the armed forces if and when necessary.
- The team also has been introduced to the Women Rural Development Societies- WRDSs and the Youth Clubs so that we could collaborate with them in identifying the right target group.
- The Principal of Jeyapuram Madhya Maha Vidyalaya/School has also extended his support and introduced the Team to the Old Boys’ Association.
- Three meetings with the youth have been held separately for girls and boys on 3rd, 4th and 5th Feb. 2017 respectively. The youth introduced themselves and the project too was introduced to them. The youth accepted that they have deep inner wounds that need to be addressed as well as not having any goals since they are living in a traumatized situation still. Yet they showed enthusiasm to bring out their talents and requested for different life skill activities.
- 25 youth have been identified and the GS of Jeyapuram has also given a list consisting 115 in South and 34 in the north for consideration.
- A meeting with all the youth has been fixed for 12th Feb.2017 for final selection.
Activity - 2 Capacity building
• Sr.Labora and Mrs.Regina Ramalingam have already met the Capacity building Team and discussed their Action Plan. As a first step a NEED ANALYSIS Session is to be held for 40-50 randomly selected youth next week, to ascertain their immediate needs and to formulate a realistic and appropriate Capacity Building Programme which is the backbone in reaching the objectives of the project.
Financial Situation
Already the team has visited the project location 05 times and both Jeyapuram and Mallavi are remote villages and hence travelling is a difficult task. Already Rs.20, 000 has been spent and there are meetings which are to be conducted soon. Hence it would be appreciated if an initial sum of money is received in order to ease the functioning of the activities in a planned manner.
We wish to thank all the members of the Committee for their support and cooperation towards this most needed project and we assure you that with the team effort of the PBN Family it would be possible to make a change in the lives of the vulnerable youth of the two villages in Vanni.