The Unity Mission Team which has been in existence since the end of the war in 2009, consists of a group of Professionals, working on a voluntary basis, on an inter faith platform and is committed to working towards achieving Unity and Reconciliation in our beautiful and beloved Sri Lanka.
We have been particularly focused on reaching out to inspire, encourage and support the children of the North, Wanni and East and linking them up with children from other areas of our Nation. The primary focus is on children between the ages of 15 to 20 years.
The efforts of the group have evolved with the changing needs of the children of the North.
The Ekamuthu Oray Makkal Unity Mission Team began by reaching out to children who were at Menik Farm with milk food and school books from June to September 2009.
Thereafter as the families began re-settling in the North, the Team has followed them to their villages and original places of residence.
The next project consisted of small scale infrastructure support to help re-build school facilities and the provision of school books and footwear. A further need for medical care was identified at that time and large scale medical camps were conducted thereafter at Kayts and at Viduthalthivu.
The former was supported by the Sri Lanka Navy and the latter by the Sri Lanka Army, with Lanka Hospitals Ltd., being the main supplier of the pharmaceuticals. The Unity Team had nearly 30 Specialist and other Doctors on board for each of these Camps.
As at the end of 2010, identifying the need to bring together children from different parts of the country resulted in the very successful and effective Unity Camp concept being designed.
The initial camp was held from December 27 to 29, 2010 with 500 children from the North / Wanni attending the Camp. This was, at that time, the largest group of children who had travelled down to Colombo for any such programme.
The objective of enhancing unity, reconciliation and healing was achieved with friendships being made between children of the North and South, which are still blossoming and flourishing more and more. This was in addition to the educational value derived and the gifts given to all the children from caring people in Colombo.
This Camp was followed up by the next Unity Camp held in Mullaithivu in June 2011. Again, this was very effective and was successfully completed. This too had 500 children in attendance.
The series of Unity Camps that have been conducted have focused on leadership development, personal capacity enhancement and integration. These have been very successful and have been supported by the Education Ministry of the Northern Province, Education Officials, the Sri Lanka Army and many others.
A significant feature of these Camps is the logistical support and partnership extended by the Sri Lanka Army towards the welfare of the children and the successful achievement of the overall objectives underlying the purpose of conducting the Camps.
A resultant benefit has been the friendships formed between young male and female soldiers with children of the North, who are just a few years younger, highlighting the fact that all are equal and valuable sons and daughters of Mother Lanka!
The healing and reconciliation experienced through this interaction and the benefit to our Nation's future is incalculable.
The Unity Mission Team is now hoping to embark on the next phase of a special journey of service to our Nation, by formalizing the Legal structure of our operating Entity.
The next project of the Ekamuthu Oray Makkal Unity Trust will be Unity Camp -3 to be held in Mannar at the end of December 2011, with the participation of over 500 children.
For more information; please contact: Bertal Pinto-Jayawardena, Co-ordinator / Trustee
Mobile: 0773 660103.. |
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