Making peace as ‘aware citizens’: raising people’s awareness on alternative thinking

Reaching out to youth with opportunities to develop knowledge is a common approach a majority of projects preferred. Many projects working with youth offered courses, study circles and seminars/ workshops on a range of issues among which were conflict transformation, critical analysis of current issues, and the impact of globalisation. Some projects intended to provide training on popular themes, such as peacebuilding, non-violent communication, etc.; while the others focused on imparting knowledge concerning issues that were affecting their lives such as the impact of globalisation and the history of the Sri Lankan political process. Below are a few examples of projects that provided training and knowledge on issues that affect young people’s day-to-day lives.

Experience

Adsaya Foundation
Adsaya Foundation works with youth from 12 villages in the Mutthur Divisional Secretariat of Trincomalee. The programme provides training on peace and harmony for persons aged between 18 to 24. A workshop would cater to about 60 youth representing a mix of Tamil and Muslim villages. The residential training focuses on conflict transformation.

Puttlam Peace Alliance
Puttlam Peace Alliance (PPA) focuses on conducting workshops on peace to young teachers and activists living in the region. Working in Moondal, Vanathavillu and Kalpitiya villages, PPA ensures that it caters to Sinhalese, Muslim and Tamil communities which consist of youth from both displaced communities and host communities. PPA approaches peace through the promotion of non-violent communication and trains youth in such communication. The youth are, in turn, supposed to share their experience with those whom they work with, be it school children, Internally Displaced Persons or friends.

X Group

X Group promotes alternative thinking through a publication which engages in the critical analysis of current political, social and cultural issues. It reaches out to an audience who are politically aware and those who seek an alternative to the popular perceptions of current events. The magazine encourages debate and discussion on the issues presented. Written in simple language, it attempts to make it more accessible to a wider audience and includes briefs of all articles to spur interest among people to read on, if they catch a glance. Primary group members and support-group members are the main contributors to the magazine.

The X Group also conducts study circles around similar topics in main cities, such as Negombo, Gampaha and Kandy. These follow a university lecture style and are conducted by members of the group who are university lecturers.

Rationale
Informal education has been viewed as the most effective form through which the implementers could reach out to youth who otherwise would not be exposed to the thinking, knowledge and the training that could better their lives. Consequently, a majority of the projects are implemented among conflict-affected, rural or plantation sector youth. Some project implementers pointed out that youth are keen on seizing the opportunities they get to better their knowledge. A participant at an Adsaya training programme pointed out:

“We have seen many incidents taking place in our communities and we have felt that there was nothing we could do to change the situation there. This kind of programme gives us the knowledge and the skills we need to make an effective intervention. This is the first step towards our goal.”

Many pointed out that youth could be influenced easily and are, more often than not, at the heart of violence. However, youth are more receptive to new ways of looking at issues. Youthful energy could be easily directed to starting new movements and spreading the knowledge. Thus, changing the attitudes and norms among the youth through education is the most effective way for social change.

Successes
A large number of beneficiaries of these projects spoke of the positive impact the knowledge and training they gained through these projects have had to change their life for the better. A participant at the same Adsaya training pointed out:

“We have got to know things we did not know before and we were given a chance to improve ourselves. We now know how to live with different ethnic communities. We know to live with people who are different from us, in harmony.”