Sri Lanka
Act for Peace in Sri Lanka
Act for Peace is working with partners in the region, both in Sri Lanka and in Tamil Nadu, the south-eastern Indian state near Sri Lanka. Partners work to ensure internally displaced people (IDP) and refugees will have the support and skills to rebuild their lives and Sri Lanka. In the meantime, we are working to ensure that IDP and refugee camps have the resources necessary to operate.
The Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation (OfERR)
Our partner in Tamil Nadu, OfERR aids Sri Lankan refugees by providing services to hospitalised patients and increasing attendance and participation in HIV-AIDS screening programs, preventative care and training for refugee health workers. By providing these refugees with materials and knowledge about health, sanitation, and community social issues we are able to prevent camp epidemics and support people’s health so they can better prepare for their futures.
OfERR also prepares the refugees for return to Sri Lanka. They aim to counter the depression caused by the impact of the conflict by continuing to raise self-esteem through improvements in literacy and vocational skills. OfERR provides an impressive range of in-depth and intensive courses designed to develop refugees’ abilities to cope and to gain life skills and increase their ability to earn a living for themselves and their families.
These activities are also complemented with education and advocacy skills, so that refugees are aware of their rights, both in Tamil Nadu and on their eventual return to Sri Lanka.
The National Christian Council in Sri Lanka
NCCSL is working to assist IDPs in the northern camps. NCCSL also undertakes relief and rehabilitation work to assist other people impacted by the war and natural disasters. It is also responsible for peace, reconciliation and inter-religious co-operation work including the establishment of Peace Nurseries for children from Sinhala, Tamil and Moslem backgrounds in the tea estates.
Local level human rights and legal rights work is also a large part of their work, as is assistance to victims of violence, helping asylum seekers, HIV/AIDS education, communication via TV, radio and publications and ecumenical work with women’s and youth groups.
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can provide five blankets and mosquito nets for families arriving in displaced persons camps
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could provide an entire month of specialist medical assistance to injured and sick women and children
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can pay for nutritious, cooked meals for ten families for a week |
