On this page
Revolving Loan Fund for Families Affected by the War
A programme of training and funding to allow families to gain financial stability and useful vocations caused by war. The programme also encourages community-building by supporting different ethnicities working along side each other.
Description
The initiative started in 2001 working with families (from all the ethnic groups present in Sri Lanka) who had suffered because of the war – their suffering varying from family fatalities to the loss or destruction of property or land – living in three border secretariats. When selecting participants, priority is given to war widows and their families. The initiative looks to provide vocational training and start-up funds for the affected families.
Aims / Objectives
The families that we work with have lived with despair and trauma caused by the conflict: they are often in a hopeless and dejected state of mind. Conflict transformation for these families would not be brought about through seminars or workshops. We therefore aim to bring about healing and conflict transformation by motivating and empowering them to secure a livelihood, which is also a burning issue for them. This assistance with livelihood minimises the conflicts that arise because of competition for resources, for example the fights that break out because the children steal food, or over possession of the fruits of a certain tree. This strategy facilitates conflict transformation through economic development.
How it is Articulated
The initiative started with the collection of data on the target families and a needs assessment based on this. From the needs assessment we select participants for the initiative, one person per family. Those selected are then offered the opportunity to attend a four day residential programme with multi-ethnic participation. The programme aims to deliver training in community leadership, financial management, and various vocations, amongst other pertinent areas.
On finishing the residential course the participants select a vocation of their choice and we facilitate the further training they need to pursue it. Some of the areas we offer training in are: weaving, carpentry, pottery, electrical engineering, sewing, mechanical engineering, and farming, to name but a few. Each programme is attended by thirty-five people and we try to run one programme every three months.
When the participants return to their villages they form into small groups. These groups both organise community activities and provide the basis from which they start a group fund with their own savings. Using this fund, they develop a loan system to support each other. We then provide additional financial assistance in order to support further vocational development. Representatives from the Polonnaruwa Rural Development Foundation (PRDF) then meet with one of these groups each week and conduct awareness programmes around issues such as ethnic harmony, conflict resolution, and small business management; the effect of this is to help create a support system for these war-affected families.
Achievements / Learning Points
This initiative helps people to have more hope and renews their interest in life. Seeing the attitude changes in the participants that follows from this is immensely satisfying, it is a proud achievement of PRDF.
Just by learning how to work together in a conflict area the participants in this scheme have enriched and changed their lives. Those participants who had previously shown little interest in anything beyond basic survival are now more enthusiastic participants in the community and, through the scheme, working alongside and supporting people from other ethnicities.
It is possible to run peace initiatives with huge amounts of publicity and awareness campaigns that run across the country, but working with a focused and smaller group of people over the long-term is far more effective and leads to tangible change. The peace that is created by working with the community, spending time and living with them, speaking to their hearts, and allowing mutual learning to flourish is the most lasting peace.
We have learnt that peace is created by people, not by the posters or the banners of the mass publicity campaign.
Geographical Area of Operation
Dimbulagala, Medirigirya, and Lankapura
Funding Resources
Self-funded by the organisation (PRDF).
Organisations Involved
Mahaweli Adhikariya, the government agent in villages, Gramasevaka, samurdi mobiliser