To stimulate the healthy psychosocial growth of children and youth by helping them recover from violent and traumatic experiences.

Improved access to education and educational services.
Peace building between the various groups within the community (Muslim, Tamil, Singhalese).

Next year will be an important year for War Child in Sri Lanka. The current programme ends in March 2008. The assessment mission in the first quarter of 2008 will provide new strategic scenarios and programmatic directions for our contribution to a relevant, holistic approach of War Child Holland and Canada to increase the wellbeing of Sri Lankan children and youth.

WCC would like to ‘graduate’ Kalmunai Peace Foundation as a partner, as it has been conveyed that it will receive additional funding through a local organization. WCC would like to continue supporting Butterfly Peace Garden to implement psychosocial programming for war-affected children and youth. WCC would also like to develop a legal program in Sri Lanka to advocate for the legal defense of children and youth at the international and national level, to implement legal aid projects and to provide comprehensive awareness-building and training on child rights to promote a culture of rights within communities and within local legal structures. We have not yet ascertained exactly which groups or locations we would like to expand to, but our upcoming 2008 mission will facilitate that.

Given the end of the ceasefire, 2008 may be a turning point for Sri Lankans. If violence between the Tamil Tigers and government forces does escalate, it may be difficult for our programs to operate smoothly. But now, more than ever, such psychosocial, peace building (and potentially legal) programming is absolutely essential. So we will make every effort to continue this work.


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