Young Peace Ambassadors
First Training , Monti Fano Kandy
 

17th – 20th July 2009

Click on the Pictures to Zoom

In the wake of the new dawn in Sri Lanka, the Peace Desk of the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka hosted its first Young Peace Ambassadors programme. It is the youth of this nation who can carry, influence and implement the message of peace and reconciliation beyond all borders of tradition and prejudice and bring communities together. To answer this call it was necessary to educate and equip young people to build the broken bridges, restore hope and bring reconciliation into their communities. This was the main purpose of this programme. The first stage of this programme was accomplished at the Young Peace Ambassadors conference held on 17th – 20th July 2009.

A panel of renowned speakers from a wide arena addressed the participants on diverse topics. They were Mr Ruki Fernando, Ms Ritza, Mr Mikel, Prof. Jayantha Senevirathna, Ms. Dishani Jayaweera, Mr. Aruna Shantha and a duo from a prestigious stage drama outfit from Colombo, were also present.

Mr. Ruki Fernando, (a Human Rights Activist) spoke on a ‘Christian perspective on peace and justice’. His narration was easy to understand and was backed by Scripture. His presentation included the following topics: a spirituality that will read the signs of the times & spirituality that will adopt Jesus’ mission. He spoke comprehensively on the captivity of the Israelites (Exodus 3:7-8) and stressed that captivity could mean various circumstances. In order to impact communities we must be able to identify the categories of need in each community and find relevant solutions. Participants were divided into groups to discuss needs and solutions for communities they work with.

Mr. Fernando also spoke on the need for Christians to be educated on Peace and Justice and challenged the participants to do more than just pray. While he emphasized on the need for prayer he called each person to SEE as Jesus saw, with our eyes, ears, mind and heart. JUDGE as Jesus judged, according to what is right, what is just and what should be. And ACT by speaking up for the marginalized. He did this through interactive sessions. “Without justice, the world is a dangerous place to live in; not because of those who are bad, but because of those who look on and let bad things happen.”

A participant said, “We looked at the issues prevailing in our country, and were able to plan and find solutions to the problems. We also looked at how as individuals we should respond to these issues.”

Ms. Ritza, a graphic artist, taught the participants to make ‘Peace Greeting Cards’. She explained to the audience about colour and how it should be used. She also spoke about symbolism and what it meant. Later the participants put all they learnt into practice, by making greeting cards.

“Ritza taught us very simple things, it was also encouraging to learn from a foreigner about the significance of the colours of our national flag.”

Mr. Mikel spoke on the ‘history of war’. He took the participants through the corridors of history from the first written war between Sparta and Athens, through to the Great Alexandra, his fall and the rise of Rome. Mikel also spoke on the beginnings of the religious war called the Crusades and concluded his sessions by challenging the group of youth where Jesus gives the ministry of reconciliation to all Christians and calls us to be peace ambassadors and to carry out his ministry.

Prof. Jayantha Senevirathna, spoke on Ethnicity and Identity. “As people who plan to work with a community, it is important to know the difference between ethnicity and identity”. Even though Professor Jayanatha is an erudite in this field he spoke in very simple language and the participants were able, not only to understand but also interact with the speaker. “Whatever ethnicity we are, we are all one kind – mankind”.

“If not for the YPA conference, we would never have had the opportunity to hear and learn from so many renowned people on so many vast subjects,” said one participant.

Ms. Dishani Jayaweera spoke on Conflict Analysis. Conflict analysis is the systematic study of the profile, causes, actions and dynamics of conflict. “Conflict is something which exists in all spheres, everywhere. Once we learn all about it, it is time to put it into action”. She spoke how conflict can be a stepping stone to bring about change and opportunity as well as hate and indifference, which ends in calamity. Through ‘Conflict Transformation’ we learn the process of working towards a peaceful outcome. This session was carried out in groups, with discussions on the roots of conflict and the elements which provoke conflict. The participants learnt how to look at all these elements and also be diplomatic in the addressing these issues.

Mr. Aruna Shantha, the President of the YMCA spoke on the Characteristics of a Youth Action Movement.
He explained the characteristics of the term ‘youth’, the definition and the differences of a group, an institute, an organ and how the young people could take up the challenges in order to make transformation.  

The participants also watched two movies during the conference; a movie titled ‘Bashu’ and ‘‘Me Para Dige Enna (Come Along This Road), based on a family who travels to Jaffna on the re-opened A9 highway.  

The participants voiced encouraging comments on what they had learnt from the YPA conference.
“We must be able to step into the shoes of another person and be able to identify with their hurts and the trauma they go through before we actually try to deal with the reconciliation process.”

 “The film Bashu was a very touching movie. It taught me the things which are stolen by the war and the endeavors people pursue to bring healing to other people’s lives. The movie was an eye opener to me.”

As theatre and drama offers a very creative vehicle to portray peace and the reconciliation process, Somalatha Subasinghe Drama Group, a prestigious theatre company, trained the participants to dance & move to beats, mime & dramatize during the ‘Theatre Session’ which was a fitting finale to the three day YPA programme.

On the final day the facilitators of the YPA conference challenged the audience to think deeply on the aspects they had gleaned over the past few days. “Everyone who has participated at the YPA conference are present today because of a calling. We are here because of a prophetic vision. If we are a people who are rooted in the Word of God and have God living in our hearts, we will be able to take the reconciliation process forward and bring about change”.