Sustainable Peace & Justice Unit of Caritas Sri Lanka organized two key advocacy and lobbying workshops in 2024 for the objective of equipping youth with the skills to promote peace and justice in their communities.
The first workshop, held on the 6th and 7th of August at the Caritas Sri Lanka Auditorium, was designed for youth from Sinhala-speaking diocesan Centers. Altogether 29 youth (17 male and 12 female) participants were there representing Chilaw, Kurunegala, Kandy, Galle, Badulla, Ratnapura and Colombo diocesan centres with the presence of Rev. Fr. Heshanth – Director, Seth Sarana – Colombo and Fr. Newman Peiris- Director, Kandy SETIK.
The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Ruki Fernando under the theme “Advocacy for peace and justice”. Through interactive activities and discussions, participants learned how to identify local advocacy partners and strategies to address issues within their communities. Feedback was highly positive, with participants appreciating the practical tools and methods provided.
The second workshop, held on the 10th of October at Caritas Trincomalee, centred around conflict mitigation. This session, led by Mr. Anton Jesudasan, Executive Director of the “Voice of the Plantation People Organization” (VOPP), saw 19 male and 15 female participants, including DC project coordinators from Batticaloa, Jaffna, Vanni, Mannar and Trincomalee. Participants engaged in group work and role-plays, deepening their understanding of advocacy and its role in conflict resolution. The interactive approach created an engaging atmosphere, and participants were left with practical insights to apply in their regions.
Both workshops emphasized the critical role of youth in advocacy efforts, providing them with the skills and confidence to contribute to peacebuilding and justice initiatives in Sri Lanka. This was conducted under the project “ A Modern, dynamic, and Youth-centred Approach to Peace Processes and Conflict Mitigation” funded by Misereor – Germany.
