Sri Lanka Interactive Media Group (SLIMG)

SLIMG seeks to promote peace through holistic development programmes which combine economic and human development, and which bring conflicting parties together in the pursuit of common goals.

Overview

SLIMG primarily works with rural village communities and schools and has a youth network spanning the entire island. It believes that sustainable peace can be achieved only through socio-economic development of all aspects of life, and that peacebuilding and conflict transformation activities are most effective when approached through inter-ethnic cooperation.

It aims for sustainable conflict transformation through holistic development, combining external/physical and internal/human development programmes. These include awareness programmes on human rights, health issues, development work, education, gender issues and anti-narcotic campaigns designed to achieve this goal.

SLIMG has observed that the groups they work with actually transform the conflict in various ways as a result of using this approach. Far from being limited to psychological healing and changing attitudes, the groups with which SLIMG works actively engage in transforming their day-to-day conflicts, such as economic struggles.

its work, SLIMG has learnt that making a real change in a conflict takes the full-time commitment of the personnel involved. On the basis of its experience, the organisation has also developed a process to encourage holistic development in communities which is ideally suited to the context of a developing country. By combining community knowledge with SLIMG's expertise, Marxist strategies of development can be introduced that require very little financial investment. With the continuing participation of the communities, a process of achieving common development goals can be designed which is carried out through interaction between conflicting parties. In this way, the community itself designs and implements a strategy to encourage peace while working on development.

What services are provided?

Training, counselling.

Geographical area of operation

Island-wide.

Funding Resources

Long term funders: Maneglytt (Norway), Fredskropset (Norway).

What Further Information Would You Like?

• Information on organisations that provide volunteers.
• Organisations interested in supporting SLIMG’s work.

What New Contacts Would You Like To Make?

Organisations that are interested in peace through holistic development.

Associated Organisations

Local: Interactive Children’s Society, National Network of Children’s Organisations.

International: Child Workers in Asia (Thailand).