Peace and Health Progressing Organisation (PHPO)

PHPO is primarily involved with improving inter-ethnic communication and understanding; and raising awareness of gender, human rights, and health issues in Sri Lanka's Anuradhapura District.

Overview

PHPO perceives the lack of interaction between ethnicities as a main cause of the conflict, and intends to promote national integration through their organisational work.

The organisation was initiated by the Muslim community, but today their staff is multi-ethnic, though maintaining a Muslim majority. PHPO conducts peace building and conflict transformation programs in different areas, all inside the District of Anuradhapura. These include human rights awareness campaigns, gender sensitivity programs, female empowerment programs and election monitoring.

Most of the conflict transformation programs are voluntary, and are conducted in Tamil and Sinhala. PHPO earns the money required to maintain the office and implement their projects through environmentally friendly activities, such as collecting and supplying plastic to be recycled. This enables PHPO to maintain independence in designing and conducting their very much culturally and contextually based conflict transformation projects and remain unbiased in their overview.

PHPO has learnt that it is important to practice equality in all areas of work conducted by the organisation, since an organisation's actions speak for more than what the organisation advocates. The possibility of internal conflicts arising is minimised in this way.

In recognition of PHPO’s contribution to promote interaction and cooperation between different ethnicities, the organisation was invited for a discussion at the Peace Secretariat in Vaunia with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and the Sri Lankan Government, as a Civil Society representative.

What Services Are Provided?

• Free translations of materials from Sinhala and English to Tamil;
• awareness programs on gender, human rights and health issues;
• counselling.
  
  

Geographical Area of Operation

Anuradhapura District

Funding Resources

Sri Lanka Family Planning Association, Peoples Peace Front, National Peace Council, Anti War Front, Movement of Defence and Democracy Rights.

What Further Information Would You Like?

• Information on direct donor organisations;
• support/training on project writing;
• further capacity building in peace building and conflict transformation;
• information on effective NGO management.
  
  

What New Contacts Would You Like To Make?

Organisations that supply volunteers.

Associated Organisations

People's Peace Front, Women's Organisation in Anuradhapura, Rural Water Projects.