Children's Congress

Promoting inter-ethnic understanding and co-operation, Samadeepa has united children from Sri Lanka's East and North Central provinces through the formation of the Children's Congress. The congress, run by the children themselves, conducts activites that teach tolerance and cultural sensitivity in the children's clubs of the areas.

Description

This initiative began in 1994 with 3 children’s clubs and 30 children and has now expanded to 150 clubs and 5600 children. It is a programme initiated under Samadeepa, focusing entirely on children, and has covered 10 divisions out of the 14 in the Anuradhapura area. Today it functions as an independent body under the umbrella of Samadeepa.

The children’s congress conducts a number of activities, including: providing education for children living in areas with few educational resources; scholarships for education; encouraging children’s involvement in social service and religious activities; and organising several inter-ethnic, inter-religious functions. The key positions of the children’s congress are given to children from all ethnicities, and the congress works in all three languages of Sinhala, Tamil and English depending on the occasion.

Aims / Objectives

The objective of this initiative is to promote co-operation and understanding between children of all ethnicities and religions. It also aims to facilitate mutual learning, and learning through the process of active involvement in congressional activities.

The collaboration of children from different backgrounds is important in the cultural sharing and exposure it gives to each child. It encourages them to be sensitive to the differences between cultures, and allows them to grow up with that sensitivity. This understanding is crucial for the positive future transformation of the ethnic conflict and for the promotion of social harmony at community level. Furthermore, it gives the children an opportunity see beyond the various ethnic stereotypes, and really come to appreciate the humanity in other people.

How it is Articulated

The initiative began by working with the village level children’s clubs, and also by forming new children’s clubs, within the areas of Samadeepa's operations. The objective was to improve inter-ethnic connections between the children, and to mobilise them to raise their voices for the pursuit of peace. The children’s congress consists of 15 adults on a management board, 15 children on an executive board, and a three person advisory board. The decision making power is with the executive board, with the other structures supporting its existence and continuation, and providing guidance. The executive board is selected through a voting process, and includes members from all ethnicities and religions.

By conducting activities such as youth camps, debates, painting exhibitions, and voluntary contributions of labour, the congress promotes inter-ethic and religious relationships. These activities are conducted throughout the year, with the congress meeting once a month to discuss their progress and to plan future activities. Also, special functions are held periodically, during which the children are encouraged to dress and act in ways that reflect their unique cultural identities.

Achievements / Learning Points

The children from different ethnicities and religions are represented in the congress decision making panel equally. The children have delivered a message to their elders through working together towards development and community leadership while respecting diversity. Furthermore, the children have been mobilised in making their voice for peace heard.

The children’s congress listen to each other and try to make space for everyone to be included in all their activities, thus modelling behaviour that needs to be replicated at decision making level, in order that a non-violent solution to the ethnic conflict can be found. The children's congress generates a higher level of learning, since the children learn through experiences which are memorable, and as such have a higher impact on their attitudes and behaviour.

It is best for the children to take charge of the initiative themselves, with the elders assisting only rarely, and merely to offer guidance. This enables more practical learning and the children really feel that the initiative is their own. Such conditions bring out the natural peace-making qualities in children, enabling them to take a more inclusive and accommodative perspective than the adults with regard to the ethnic conflict. Furthermore, whilst the programmes conducted by the congress currently include only children from the associated children’s clubs, it will be even more productive if all children can be united in the programmes of the congress, such as youth camps and competitions, since this gives the opportunity for real unity.

Geographical Area of Operation

Eastern and North Central provinces

Funding Resources

Samadeepa and members' donations

Organisations Involved

Community level development organisations