Jaffna Social Action Centre (JASC).

Working mainly women and children, often in displaced communities, JASC provide vocational training, housing, and assistance. JASC recognise the importance of joint programmes between displaced and host communities in preventing conflict, and focus on developing cross community links that reach across ethnic stereotypes and divisions.

Vocational Training for Women Affected by War

Working in collaboration with the Jaffna Technical College, JASC provides vocational training for women from internally displaced communities and their host communities in Jaffna. Individuals are given the skills to make a living, and by providing shared skills development training to both IDPs and their host communities the project creates person-to-person relationships that reach across ethnic divides.

Shelter for Internally Displaced Persons

Jaffna has over 20 years’ history of IDPs, and this project aims to move them away from the refugee camps into a safer, more secure, and healthier environment by providing them with semi-permanent houses. Through the provision of semi-permanent houses it is hoped that IDPs will be able to begin to return a more normal, settled lifestyle, away from the mentality of waiting to leave at any moment. IDPs have a space they can call their own again, a feeling of security, and hope for the future. Adults are motivated to return to work, and children see the purpose in education and study. IDPs are encouraged to integrate into the host community and the likelihood of conflict is reduced.

Safe House for Women and Children

Since 2003 JSAC has provided an immediately accessible secure place for children and women affected by violence, providing temporary shelter, medical and legal care. Further, acting on the information given by those seeking shelter, the initiative carries out awareness programs designed to address the root causes of violence in specific locations. The project provides a much needed facility in this conflict-affected community.