The Advanced Level examinations are almost over. Now comes the time for short term courses, catching up on lost sleep, spending (non-study) time with your friends and all that. Which you should do. The exams can be a hectic period of time, often focused around books, past papers, mock exams and tutorials.
But for those who want to do something worthwhile to occupy themselves during this time, and to gain some knowledge, skills and insight that would help them in the future, there are a couple of things that you could do.
EQUAL GROUND, an organization which we've been following for a while, and which we've spoken about is in the process of creating a pool of counselors for phone based counseling. The process would include providing training for the selected candidates on basic counseling, what counseling is and how it's done. On the skills development side, the people will be exposed to role plays and activities to prepare them for real life scenarios. The programme will feed into the already existing phone based counseling that they offer.
Once the counselors start working based at EG, they will also be put through a mentoring process where experienced counselors would be working hand in hand with the freshers to help them. The curriculum will also include sexual education, health, sexually transmitted infections, information on safer sex, gender roles and the overarching sphere of human rights.
For those who are interested in such programmes, for selected counselors EG would provide opportunities to move onto a diploma level study programme in partnership of affiliated bodies on the subject.
If you're interested, Nigel could be contacted on 077-5506016, or charles.nigel@gmail.com for more information. EG maintains a blog at http://equal-ground.blogspot.com, which can give an insight into the work they do.
The Beyond Borders group is also one of the most active organizations out there. It also has the unique characteristic of being completely run by young people. Beyond Borders provides a space for young people to actively express themselves and take action on development issues affecting them, and to engage in action projects related to peace and governance issues, citizenship, sexual health education and sustainable development issues through organizing workshops, seminars, open forums, training of trainers programmes and the use of forum theatre.
Most of these projects involve other young people and their opinions on how to solve the ethnic conflict and other issues relevant to youth today. Beyond Borders also conducts documentary festivals and works closely with issues such as HIV/AIDS. If any of the above interests you, or you may have an idea of your own you think Beyond Borders might be interested in, then you can join BB in making your projects happen.
For interested young people between the ages 17 and 25, you can call Sachith on 077-1332781 or email either shyala@beyondborders.lk, sachith.v@beyondborders.lk. Beyond Borders maintains a blog at http://beyondborders.wordpress.com, which contained information on the organization, videos of speeches and other related information.
Taking a different angle on things, the Youth Committee of the Family Planning Association has started a book collection drive, in order to create a library for Lanka+. Lanka+ is an organization working for people living with HIV in Sri Lanka.
You can start your own initiative at your school, office or any other youth group in supporting this venture. While the book collection drive does not accept monetary donations, you can however provide your support by dropping off books at the Information Centre of the Family Planning Association, located at 37/27, Buller's Lane, Colombo 7, situated just behind the BMICH. Milinda can be reached on 078-6288980 if you need further information.
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