Activities in the Month of July to September 2007
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Artists for a Better World
In Sri Lanka today, our leaders are grappling with the task of formulating a durable and sustainable peace agreement that will adequately address the root causes of the tragic conflict that is afflicting the country.
As it stands, the situation is critical, most particularly in the North and East, where violence has raised an ugly head yet again.
It is within such trying circumstances that CPArts continues steadfastly to function and promote its doctrine of peace building across all ethnicities through its fostering of the arts.
Thus CPArts conducted a programme titled “Artists for a Better World” at each of its 6 clusters. At these programmes, 10 members from each Centre were selected and groomed to take on the role of Trainer. These new trainers in turn conducted training programmes/workshops led by artistes focussing on drama, music, dance and other arts and games.
The programme culminated on 28th of July when each cluster gathered their member Centres together and put forth a full day of performance and entertainment. Here are the basic details:
- Jaffna & Illavalai
Venue : Manippai Divisional cultural hall.
Date : 4th August 2007
Target group: Women
- Mannar, Puttalam and Vavuniya Cluster Programme
Venue : SLRC hall Vavuniya
Date : 29th July 2007
Target group: Children
NB: Jaffna & Mannar clusters did not implement the programme on this date. The Vanni centre also didn’t join up with Jaffna due to the adverse situation prevailing in those areas.
- Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Moneragala Cluster Programme
Venue : Trincomalee Sinhala Maha Vidyalaya Hall.
Target group: Youth
- Panadure, Galle, Matara and Hambantota Cluster Programme
Venue : Panadura CPA and Town Hall
Target Group: Youth
- Kandy, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura Cluster Programme
Venue : Pilimathalawa Sri Sudarshanaramaya Pansala
Target Group: Women
- Avissawella, Colombo and Ratnapura Cluster Programme
Venue : Meepe Seethawaka Community Hall
Target Group: Children
Farewell!
The CPArts Co-ordinating Office bade a fond farewell to York University student Ms Debbie Robb at a party held on 26th July 2007. Debbie was an intern with our CPArts family for a period of 3 months. We thank her most gratefully, for the services she rendered during her short time with us.
Enhancing Skills in Planning, Monitoring and Report Writing
Training programmes were conducted for members of CPArts to develop their capacity levels in the key areas of Planning, Monitoring and Report Writing.
These programmes are the result of feedback and realisation reached after last year’s Capacity Building initiatives.
Training took the form of three residential programmes organised for Co-ordinators, Secretariat and Field Officers consisting of two sessions.
The programmes were conducted at the La Sallian Education Centre, Mutwal on the 24th, 25th and 26th of August 2007, for those from centres where the predominant language spoken is Sinhala, and on the 31st August and 1st September 2007, for those from centres where the predominant language spoken is Tamil.
Some key derivatives from these programmes were to define elements of a project, identify sources for gathering of information, to identify community needs and to develop SMART objectives.
F Solomentine, our Project Officer conducted the training with the support of the CPArts Programme Unit. Mr Solomentine also conducted the same programme in Jaffna for our Illavalai and Jaffna Centres on the 19th, 20th and 21st of July 2007.
Contributing to National Catholic Conference, Ampitiya, Kandy – September 2007
Members from our Centres in Colombo, Avissawella and Kandy gave a performance in mime, depicting the good news of the life of Jesus Christ and the efficacious propagation of His Word during the post-Resurrection period on the second day of this Conference.
The Conference was sponsored by the Catholic National Commission for Missionary Activity in Sri Lanka and was directed at nuns and teachers in a bid to deepen their faith and awareness of Christianity and to inspire them in their missionary endeavours.
The event was graced by the Apostolic Nuncio to Sri Lanka His Excellency Most Reverend Archbishop Mario Zenari who was the Chief Guest, and His Lordship the Bishop of Badulla, the Most Reverend Dr. J. Winston S. Fernando who was the Guest of Honour.
Kids have fun at Sports Meet at St John Bosco College, Jaffna
On the 30th September 2007, children from around the Jaffna Peninsula joined kids from St John Bosco College for a day of sports and fun, in an event organised by CPArts.
Despite the ever present emotional and mental stress that accompanies life in the Peninsula as a consequence of the tragedy of conflict, children came together in a most remarkable way, to enjoy themselves.
Children from many surrounding areas as well as pupils of St John Bosco College participated.
At the end of the day, it was so heartening to see with what joy and whole heartedness the children embraced the event. Their exemplary behaviour and the manner in which they welcomed others and made them feel at home with one another were an eye opener for us adults.
Several distinguished persons graced the occasion. Present were the Jaffna District Children’s Disciplinary Officer Mrs. Kanagambigai Sivaraja, the Principal of St’ John Bosco Vidyalaya, Rev. Sr. Mariya Jeevanthi and the Board member of CPArts Jaffna, Mr. K. U. Colin.
Another highlight of the occasion was the naming of student Houses in the school, after CPArts members Victor, Aruman and Anderson.