Villagers representing several community based organisations (working to safeguard the rights of and enhance the welfare of children) in the Gampaha district have established a network to advocate on issues relevant to the rights of children.  A joint effort by Save the Children, Plan International and FORUT Sri Lanka in mobilizing the community to establish a network to work towards safeguarding the rights of children and lobby with the respective state sector channels, other organisations and legal authorities in the event of violations of rights occurring. FORUT’s contribution towards this network will be providing the technical expertise. The group that comprised of senior teachers, village leaders, community level government officers, child club leaders, heads of community based organisation expressed their enthusiasm, partly because they possessed real time work experience in relation to children – i.e. child club management, teaching, etc.,

Since establishing themselves into a network, the group met on 18th and 19th of August at the community hall in Thampala for a 2 day workshop on ‘Defining the Child Rights Charter’ organized by FORUT Sri Lanka

Pint sized Sumana a dynamic forty year old woman who is actively engaged in the village of Kandasuindugama, Negombo coming under the administration of the Gampaha district. She was one of the participants at this 2 day workshop and here’s what she had to say

"I represent the civil society in Kandasurindugama, where I function as the chairperson. Together with the other members I was eager to attend this workshop as I was keen to understand the fundamentals of “Child Rights”. The organisation I represent plays an active role in enhancing the welfare of children by organizing a host of educational, cultural, spiritual activities involving the participation of children with an objective to improve the interaction among the children of the village. I had vaguely heard about the UN Charter highlighting the rights of children but what I learnt on the first day of this workshop about the Charter was vast and so valuable. I was not aware that there were as many as 54 acts and that 42 of them covered areas in which the rights of a child could be violated.

It was useful for me to know how the rights of a child were divided into sub areas of ‘participation’ ‘development’ ‘protection’ and to understand how under each of these areas the rights could be violated. During the workshop when the rights of a child were being evaluated individually, I began to reflect on the current status of children in our country, where some are even deprived of their basic rights especially where it concerns education. We, as adults, are fully responsible not only for our own, but all children in general. In order to work towards improving the rights of our children it is important that we have a total understanding and whom to network with in raising concerns over issues relating to violations etc.,

I really appreciate the efforts taken by the organizers of this workshop in providing this kind of information and guidance to us. I hope they will continue to have similar informative workshops, perhaps with more practical exercises as it will really improve our knowledge and help us to work more effectively."

Lahiru Child club with a membership of around 30 children in Negombo was lead by Malsha Nadishani. Being an A/L student and with a year left to quit school, Malsha was very committed in her role as a leader and had this to express about her presence at the workshop :

"The school syllabus does not cover anything in relation to ‘rights’ of any kind. The media never talks about rights based issues so this was something new that I learnt at this workshop. Actually it is interesting that during an entire day, the Child Rights Charter was taken up for discussion and by group activities the acts were reviewed. I knew there was a Charter by the UN for the rights of children, but never knew that it was so detailed and covered all child rights based issues in such depthness. I am happy to have been present at this workshop and to have gained immensely valuable knowledge."

Leader of the Mayura Childrens club in Akkarapanaha, Negombo, Anoj a 20 year old youngster said that although he always took the precedence in organizing cultural, educational and other activities that foster goodwill between the children and adults in his village, he was not aware of the Charter nor what channels to connect to when there were issues. He said that from what he gathered at this workshop he will strategize of a method of applying it to the work he does along with his colleagues. In his own words :

"Together with the 25 members of the club and my colleagues who work with me to run this club, I now have to devise a method of how best we can build ourselves in being better geared in the ‘prevention’ process. It was certainly worthwhile to have been present at this workshop."

Being the only government official present, it was interesting to listen to the views of Saparamadu Sanjeewa who was serving as a community level social welfare officer in the local provincial council of his hometown while also lending his expertise to Sri Lanka Janatha Foundation a civil society, operating in his village. A typical country youth, Sanjeewa was born to a farming family. He attributes the reason for his deep sense of desire to help the down trodden, to the days he grew up amidst financial hardships and often feels for those who are now facing similar experiences. Here’s what Sanjeewa had to comment :

"Usually it’s only the officers who handle the relevant subject get an opportunity to attend informative workshops such as these, while the rest don’t get opportunities to attend. I am happy to be invited to this workshop and also to be a part of the network.I can assure that using my utmost strengths and resources I will serve in the best interests of the network’s objective. On a personal level, I truly enjoy working in the interests of children, empowering women and initiating livelihoods and function as a resource person in many training programmes relating to these areas. In my official capacity I am the Gampaha District Co-ordinator for civil societies thus it makes it very easy for me to work in the same district on an official level as well as peruse on the same interests personally. I feel that it’s also a privilege to be a part of a network that is committed to work on the interests of children and to be able to contribute in a larger way in my official capacity

In conclusion the group decided to meet every month to discuss on the way forward and methods of strengthening the network within the community, gradually elevating it to divisional, district and national level."