The Youth of Sri The Youth of Sri LankaLanka

Aiding those in need…Aiding those in need………giving hope…giving hope…

……making a difference…making a difference…

What is VISIONS?What is VISIONS?• The VISIONS Program was started in 2003 by Meera PathmarajahThe VISIONS Program was started in 2003 by Meera Pathmarajah• VISIONS is an 11-day English and Leadership Camp designed to VISIONS is an 11-day English and Leadership Camp designed to

uplift the youth of Northeast Sri Lanka by better preparing them uplift the youth of Northeast Sri Lanka by better preparing them for the futurefor the future

• VISIONS has recently put a stronger emphasis on the leadership VISIONS has recently put a stronger emphasis on the leadership aspect of the training, with lessons touching upon trust, ethics, aspect of the training, with lessons touching upon trust, ethics, meeting skills, communication & listening, responsibilities, goal-meeting skills, communication & listening, responsibilities, goal-setting, time management, and moresetting, time management, and more

• Local and foreign volunteers interact with youth from children’s Local and foreign volunteers interact with youth from children’s homes scattered all over Northeast Sri Lankahomes scattered all over Northeast Sri Lanka

• In 2005 the VISIONS program grew immensely, holding 3 In 2005 the VISIONS program grew immensely, holding 3 separate camps in Batticaloa, Trincomalee, and Jaffnaseparate camps in Batticaloa, Trincomalee, and Jaffna

• Batticaloa: 95 students/27 volunteers, Trincomalee: 50 Batticaloa: 95 students/27 volunteers, Trincomalee: 50 students/10 volunteers, Jaffna: 52 students/11 volunteersstudents/10 volunteers, Jaffna: 52 students/11 volunteers

• Camp activities go all day, starting at 7:00am and ending at Camp activities go all day, starting at 7:00am and ending at approx. 7:00pmapprox. 7:00pm

VISIONS Daily ScheduleVISIONS Daily Schedule– 7:00am – 8:15am7:00am – 8:15am Yoga class Yoga class – 8:30am – 9:00am 8:30am – 9:00am BreakfastBreakfast– 9:00am – 9:15am 9:00am – 9:15am Daily announcements & Daily announcements &

Recitation of Recitation of Camp RulesCamp Rules– 9:15am – 9:45am 9:15am – 9:45am English songsEnglish songs– 9:45am – 11:15am9:45am – 11:15am English LessonsEnglish Lessons– 11:15pm – 11:20pm11:15pm – 11:20pm Juice BreakJuice Break– 11:20pm – 1:00pm11:20pm – 1:00pm Leadership Lesson & Leadership Leadership Lesson & Leadership

GroupsGroups– 1:00pm – 2:00pm1:00pm – 2:00pm Lunch BreakLunch Break– 2:00pm- 3:00pm2:00pm- 3:00pm English Study Hall (homework English Study Hall (homework

period)period)– 3:00pm – 3:30pm3:00pm – 3:30pm English Story TimeEnglish Story Time– 3:30pm – 5:15pm 3:30pm – 5:15pm Student Council Committee Student Council Committee

Development Development & Leadership Groups& Leadership Groups– 5:15pm – 6:30pm5:15pm – 6:30pm Recreation / Sports / Optional Recreation / Sports / Optional

dance dance lessonslessons– 6:30pm – 7:00pm6:30pm – 7:00pm Evening PrayersEvening Prayers– 7:00pm – 7:30pm7:00pm – 7:30pm “Daily Reflection” / Student of “Daily Reflection” / Student of

the Day the Day Awards/Closing announcementsAwards/Closing announcements

VISIONS 2005VISIONS 2005• The Context under which the VISIONS The Context under which the VISIONS

Program operates: Northeast Sri LankaProgram operates: Northeast Sri Lanka

Over two decades of civil war, Dozens of military checkpointsOver two decades of civil war, Dozens of military checkpoints Over 700,00 landmines Over 700,00 landmines which has left over 60,000 which has left over 60,000 unaccounted for todayunaccounted for today

dead and 1 million displaceddead and 1 million displaced throughout Sri Lanka’s countryside throughout Sri Lanka’s countryside

Issues Youth in NE Sri Issues Youth in NE Sri Lanka face daily…Lanka face daily…

• Realities of warRealities of war• TsunamiTsunami(December 26, 2004)(December 26, 2004)

• Poverty (80% of NE falls Poverty (80% of NE falls belowbelow the poverty line) the poverty line)• Malnourishment/Lack of HealthcareMalnourishment/Lack of Healthcare• Underdeveloped InfrastructureUnderdeveloped Infrastructure• Lack of OpportunityLack of Opportunity• Overcrowded Children’s Homes/Inadequate Overcrowded Children’s Homes/Inadequate

EducationEducation

VISIONS 2005VISIONS 2005• Some Special ActivitiesSome Special Activities::

Art Fair Art Fair Sports DaySports Day

English CompetitionEnglish CompetitionField TripField Trip

Poetry ReadingPoetry ReadingTalent ShowTalent Show

VISIONS student, Reka, worksVISIONS student, Reka, works VISIONS volunteer, Sapna, with VISIONS volunteer, Sapna, with on her ‘tsunami’ art projecton her ‘tsunami’ art project VISIONS students at a beach in Jaffna. VISIONS students at a beach in Jaffna.

VISIONS 2005VISIONS 2005• 33 Foreign Volunteers (31 USA, 2 33 Foreign Volunteers (31 USA, 2

India)India)

VISIONS 2005VISIONS 2005

VISIONS VISIONS 2005: Trincomalee2005: Trincomalee

VISIONS 2005: Batticaloa

Hold your own VISIONS Hold your own VISIONS camp…camp…

All VISIONS materials are currently being All VISIONS materials are currently being institutionalized. A Volunteer institutionalized. A Volunteer

Handbook/Instruction Guide provides: a Handbook/Instruction Guide provides: a background to the VISIONS program with its background to the VISIONS program with its

stated goals and objectives, daily schedules with stated goals and objectives, daily schedules with exact rec. times, explanations of all activities and exact rec. times, explanations of all activities and

events, explanations of how to conduct each aspect events, explanations of how to conduct each aspect of the VISIONS camp, instructions for volunteers, of the VISIONS camp, instructions for volunteers,

and all necessary accompanying written materials. and all necessary accompanying written materials. All materials will be organized and translated into All materials will be organized and translated into Tamil, so that Tamil, so that ANYONEANYONE can pick up this manual can pick up this manual and run a successful VISIONS camp. You do the and run a successful VISIONS camp. You do the

fundraising, the organizing of volunteers and fundraising, the organizing of volunteers and materials, and the making of specific plans with materials, and the making of specific plans with

local contacts...and hold the VISIONS camp local contacts...and hold the VISIONS camp wherever, whenever, and with whomever you wherever, whenever, and with whomever you

choose…you absolutely have the ability to do this choose…you absolutely have the ability to do this and make a difference to these youth…and make a difference to these youth…

Future VISIONS EffortsFuture VISIONS Efforts• Community Centers & Satellite CentersCommunity Centers & Satellite CentersPlans are in the works to build a community center in Trincomalee that Plans are in the works to build a community center in Trincomalee that

will train young adults in how to implement English and Leadership will train young adults in how to implement English and Leadership Instruction, Computer Training, Vocational Training, and Instruction, Computer Training, Vocational Training, and Sports/Dance/Art/Music Programs at a number of satellite community Sports/Dance/Art/Music Programs at a number of satellite community centers that will be established throughout the larger Trinco area. centers that will be established throughout the larger Trinco area. The Trinco center itself will also offer these same services, thus The Trinco center itself will also offer these same services, thus functioning both as a standard community center and a training functioning both as a standard community center and a training center.center.

• Scholarship Program & PlacementScholarship Program & PlacementFor qualified students who have completed the VISIONS program, or who For qualified students who have completed the VISIONS program, or who

have received training at one of the community center locations and have received training at one of the community center locations and been identified as motivated and qualified for further educational been identified as motivated and qualified for further educational endeavors, VISIONS hopes to establish a scholarship program for endeavors, VISIONS hopes to establish a scholarship program for talented youth. In addition, VISIONS hopes to set up and successfully talented youth. In addition, VISIONS hopes to set up and successfully implement a placement program for young adults wishing to continue implement a placement program for young adults wishing to continue their education in such fields of study as Computer Training, Teacher their education in such fields of study as Computer Training, Teacher Training, University Study, Study Abroad, Dance/Music/Art Programs, Training, University Study, Study Abroad, Dance/Music/Art Programs, etc. VISIONS hopes to provide financial as well as etc. VISIONS hopes to provide financial as well as logistical/organizational assistance to help students in this process.logistical/organizational assistance to help students in this process.

How you can get How you can get involvedinvolved

• Web DesignWeb Design• Other Computer Skills (Formatting)Other Computer Skills (Formatting)• Video Production (VISIONS, tsunami)Video Production (VISIONS, tsunami)• Go Volunteer/Hold your own VISIONS Go Volunteer/Hold your own VISIONS

CampCamp• Hold your own fundraiser, create Hold your own fundraiser, create

your own events, go to Sri Lanka, or your own events, go to Sri Lanka, or contact someone who needs help contact someone who needs help (i.e. me, Meera, etc.)(i.e. me, Meera, etc.)

Fundraising IdeasFundraising Ideas• Tsunami 1-Year AnniversaryTsunami 1-Year Anniversary: help plan an : help plan an

event to commemorate this moment in historyevent to commemorate this moment in history• Project PatchworkProject Patchwork, constructing a quilt for , constructing a quilt for

humanity: fundraising with schoolshumanity: fundraising with schools

• Hoops for HopeHoops for Hope, charity basketball tournament, charity basketball tournament• AnythingAnything you are inspired to do… you are inspired to do…

Tsunami ResearchTsunami Research• ““Living in an NGO World”Living in an NGO World” A Critique on the Post-Tsunami Relief & A Critique on the Post-Tsunami Relief & Reconstruction Effort Reconstruction Effort