Funday Times

How did our Projects Section start?

The Projects Committee of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association was formed thanks to the impact made by Mrs. Venetia Gamage at the World Conference of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) held in England in 1974. An ardent Guide, Mrs. Gamage has dedicated more than 60 years to Guiding and Community Service. She was selected by WAGGGS to represent the Association at this conference in recognition and appreciation of her initiative in introducing Population Awareness to the Senior Guide Syllabus in Sri Lanka.

After Mrs. Gamage had addressed the assembly, Mrs. Laurel Casinader, a Sri Lankan living in England and involved in the Westminster branch of the International Alliance of Women asked her if she would be willing to organize island-wide programmes if funds were provided. Mrs. Gamage readily agreed, and explained how programmes could be implemented at National, Divisional and District level.

The Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association launched the Family Life Education program in 23 districts, marking the beginning of the Projects Committee of which Mrs. Gamage was appointed as the first Chairperson. Since its inception and under her tenure the Projects Committee has carried out numerous and varied Social Service and Community Development Schemes. Carrying out medical clinics and providing meals to underprivileged children in Dematagoda; slum and shanty upliftment in Sedawatte and Wellawatte; Drug Addicts Rehabilitation; and the 'Baladakshika Gama' which provided homes to 10 impoverished families who were dependant on women as the breadwinners, are but a few.

Partnerships were built up with many other Guide Associations around the world and UN agencies such as UNICEF. With Swedish funding, the National Training Centre in Kadawata, the Vocational Training Centre in Heenetipone, the Community Hall in Wellawatte and the Pre-School building in Kitulawa were built.

Mrs Gamage also initiated a program called 'Caring for the Aged' under which health camps, eye clinics, issuing of Senior Citizen Identification Cards and training of Care Givers to the elderly were organized and carried out. The aim of this project was to bridge the inter-generation gap. It is a purely voluntary project with which Mrs. Gamage is still actively involved.

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