Reaching out to the poor

It all started in 1980 when Brother Emmanuel of the De La Salle Brothers as Director of the Formation Centre in Mutwal wanted to expose the young Brothers to the world of the poor. Lorna Wright, broadcaster, social activist and journalist and Dr. Brighty de Mel of the Medical Research Institute (MRI) walked into 25, Temple Road, Mutwal, a badly neglected property gifted to the De La Salle Brothers. Soon they were joined by Brother Marc Hoffer from Switzerland for three years. They set up the Lasallian Community Education Services (LCES) working in the slum gardens in Colombo North.

Brother Emmanuel first worked in Pakistan then went to USA for higher studies at Fordham University, New York. On his return to Pakistan, he was recalled to Colombo to train the young Brothers for Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan.

The challenge of his work was in its complications. Sri Lanka was a developing nation concentrating on three national level languages, moving out of colonial times. Education was not an orderly enterprise but for Brother Emmanuel it was work with great responsibility to God and man. He needed hope and knew it to be alive.

For his foresight and hard work with youth he was elected Provincial for three years. To further integrate this type of education for the dropouts required interdisciplinary team efforts. Bro. Emmanuel teamed up with Dr. Brighty de Mel, and Lorna Wright. Many other professionals and contacts who were constantly with parents and slum children, participated and contributed their time towards solving the growing drop-out problem.

Home visiting in the shantytown was a must and Brother Emmanuel developed a prototype curriculum and instructional material for use in the Skills Training Informal Sector education programmes. As an Executive Committee member of the World Council for Curriculum and Instruction (WCCI), Brother Emmanuel had the advantage of drawing from the experience of its global membership. Locally he was inspired by the commitment and innovative implementation of programmes for the poor youth by Brother Hermenegild of the Diyagala Boys’ Town. Brother Emmanuel’s studies at Teachers' College, Columbia University, New York and his Doctoral Thesis in “Learning Involvement In And Through Service With The Poor” further consolidated his commitment and work with the poor.

At LCES, the trainees had to use their hands in a Learn and Earn Timetable. Today if there are many underpaid, unemployed youth causing violence around, it was because youth felt they were denied the choice of a profession to practise. LCES made learning desirable as they got a Government NAITA certificate after being tested. Above all, these school dropouts became aware of the world of work and acquired the self-confidence to enter the informal sector and earn a living. With knowledgeable work with their hands, respected and valued in a trade, thousands have gone through LCES over the last twenty-five years. It contributed to establishing happy families.