Road and Drinking water provision for a Multi ethnic village

This initiative brought together the two different ethnic communities within a village to unite them on a single project. By working together to achieve a new road and access to drinking water the two seperate groups were able to realise they both want and need the same things; regardless of different ethnic backgrounds. This understanding is fundamental to achieving peace.

Description

The initiative started in 2005 and has two phases, the first phase involved constructing a road for a village that is divided into two sections (one Tamil, the other Sinhalese) with the support of both communities. The second phase provided drinking water for the homes that did not have access to drinking water before, most of which were from the Tamil section of the village. 

Aims / Objectives

This initiative aimed to get the two sections of the village - which were not on friendly terms - to work together and thereby to promote peaceful co-existence. Also it aimed to facilitate the process for the marginalised groups to be accepted into the society and to help them feel that they too belong. Not having a connection with each other was a cause for misunderstandings and conflicts, as was the case for these participants. Therefore through encouraging them to work together and develop relations, the initiative aimed to reduce conflicts.

How it is Articulated

A person from the Sinhala community made a request to us for a road to their village and accordingly we had a discussion with the people in the village. Hearing that Tamils also live in the village we encouraged the two communities to get together and work out the kind of assistance they need. The road, drinking water, a community based organisation and a shrine were their requests. The two communities were brought together in a leadership training camp to lead their communities in achieving these facilities and to bring unity and co-existence to the community. The necessary equipment for building the road was given to them and the villagers made a 3 kilometre road that connects them to the main road. This phase was completed within two months .

The second phase provided drinking water for the homes that do not have access to it. The water comes from a deep well in the village itself and the homes that wanted water were supplied with water meters. The community based organisation was given training on maintaining pipe lines and book keeping, and the money charged for water was given to the organisation for its maintenance. This was a 6-month project.

Achievements / Learning Points

This initiative was selected as the best project in 2005 by USAid. We perceive this as an indication of the impact this initiative had on its target group. The village now has a community based organisation that gives equal status to the Tamils and Sinhalese. Together they have worked out ways to behave in conflicts between communities and the previous tension and conflicts in the area has reduced by almost 80%. This impressive figure has been noted by the organisation, who are based in the nearby area. The communities getting together to discuss their problems itself is an indication of the improved relationships among the two groups. The Tamil community who were hopeless and inactive earlier, due to being marginalised and shunned from the society earlier are more outspoken and they joined together to ask the provincial council for a Shrine to worship and they received one. This too is an indication of their development and the success of the initiative.

It would be more beneficial to start even more joint projects for mutual development between different ethnicities. Each small project that addresses conflicts between ethnicities contributes to the peace process of the country since all these works to breakdown ethnic stereotypes that keeps people apart, and improve friendly relations between each other. these attitude changes in people are reflected in and have the power to impact upon crucial decisions in a referendum regarding a solution to the ethnic conflict or in selecting politicians based on their outlook towards the ethnic conflict.

Geographical Area of Operation

Mahagodayaya in Buttala

Funding Resources

USAid- Ampara