Mr. Aron Halfen, Senior Advisor, Caritas Norway visited the Food Security program field locations in Chilaw, Mannar, Jaffna, Vanni and Kandy on 17th to 22nd November 2021 accompanied by the Rev. Father Mahendra Gunatilleke, National Director, Mr. Priyantha Fernando, Program Manager, Mrs. Nilani Tissera, National Program Coordinator, and Mr. Nishanth, Regional Coordinator (North & East) from Caritas Sri Lanka –SEDEC.
As a result of the strong partnership between the Caritas Norway, the Government of Norway (NORAD) and Caritas Sri Lanka, the island wide program on Food Security has been implemented successfully by the Caritas Sri Lanka network since 2018 to date. The main objectives being community empowerment, promotion of organic home gardening, livestock rearing and pond fish culture enabling more than 28,000 farmer families to consume healthy and nutritionally balanced diets besides helping to enhance their domestic economy. The program also benefits 54,000 school children and 24,000 mothers of pre-school children to reduce malnutrition.
Directors of the Diocesan Centres and Diocesan Field staff of the Food Security program presented the progress made by them in their respective dioceses. Caritas Mannar, Caritas Jaffna and Caritas Vanni arranged the field visits on home gardening, Village Knowledge Centres and Marketing centres for Mr. Aron to see firsthand the progress made by some of the CBO members and their organic produce in very remote villages. He was very happy to meet the members of the farmer families and chat with them. The villagers heartily welcomed him and shared their gratitude with him as they are able to consume chemical free vegetables and fruits and being able to consume a nutritionally balanced diet with their family members.
Overall, it was a very memorable day as the Senior Advisor from Caritas Norway visited the program locations.
