USAID/OTI Sri Lanka Hot Topics December 2006
Enhancing Livelihoods and Restoring Relationships
USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) program in Sri Lanka aims to generate greater support for a negotiated peace settlement to end the island nation's longstanding internal conflict. To accomplish this, USAID/OTI supports local groups to implement small-grant activities that: promote inclusive, collaborative priority setting resulting in community improvement projects at the local level; increase understanding of key transition issues; and capitalize on windows of opportunity to mitigate conflict and generate momentum for the peace process.
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| Trainees examine new tools and equipment at carpentry training center for tsunami-affected youth in Kalmunai. |
The struggle to restore normalcy after the tsunami in Kalmunai, a coastal town in the eastern district of Ampara, takes place against the backdrop of violent incidents, abductions and general communal unrest. Though they share a language, many of the ethnic Muslims and Tamils here live in different sections of town and rely on separate local government bodies for public services. The frequency, nature and quality of interaction between communities is directly related to the temperature of Sri Lanka's protracted conflict, in which cultural differences sometimes are manipulated for short-term political gain.
Restoring and sustaining livelihoods opportunities was identified by Kalmunai Muslims and Tamils alike as a key to mitigating the economic consequences of war and natural disaster. To address this need, OTI partnered with the Center for Peacebuilding and Reconciliation to establish a carpentry vocational-training center for tsunami-affected youth. The facility, situated in a multi-ethnic neighborhood on the Ampara-Batticaloa border in Kalmunai, addresses a regional shortage of trained carpenters. A local Hindu Temple donated land to the community for the center, an international agency built necessary sanitary facilities, and local government offices cooperated at every stage.
"Those who complete the training successfully will walk away, not just with a quality education, but with a set of tools that will allow them to work independently -- even if permanent employment is not found," according to the instructor.
Sixty local Tamil and Muslim youth from the coastal towns of Kalmunai, Ninthavur, Thirukkovil and Akkaraipattu are being trained in the first batch, from which several carpenter-trainers will be selected to work on future trainings. Tamil and Muslim youth integrated through this vocational training program cooperate not just during the training, but beyond the training, as well.
An officer from the National Youth Services Council emphasized the hope conveyed to youth through the training, "This type of initiative gives young people a boost in life, and a good excuse not to go astray."
For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C.: Christie Sunwoo, Program Manager, 202-712-1924, csunwoo@usaid.gov
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