Empowering Sri Lankan Mothers: Diviyata Diviyak 4.0 by Rotaract Club of USJ
View(s):The Rotaract Club of University of Sri Jayewardenepura, through its Community Service Avenue, unveiled Diviyata Diviyak 4.0, an initiative dedicated to empowering underprivileged mothers and children all over Sri Lanka. The project entailed a spectrum of important activities revolving around maternal health, early childhood development & mental health which acted as a springboard for empowerment and long-term transformation. Diviyata Diviyak 4.0 was a multi-faceted initiative which was structured into various phases, and each phase covered key areas of support for mothers and children.
Phase 01 – Awareness Sessions on Child and Maternal Health
Phase 01 of the project was focused on holding awareness sessions in underprivileged communities, and as background research revealed that certain communities faced statistically high risks of child pregnancies due to cases of rape and drug abuse, we selected and reached out to the Gramasewaka officers in Singhapura, Kolonnawa, and Modara—areas known for their slum conditions and conducted our first session.
The second session, carried out at Welikada Prison, was focused on the awareness of maternal health and mental wellness for mothers in prison. Renowned expert Mrs. Elizabeth Rahim, a dedicated counselour, was indelible in our efforts in making the program a success. It is also noteworthy that we were the first voluntary organisation to organise such a programme centered around a prison compound.
As the third session, an awareness programme on maternal and child health was organized based in Modara. As such, we were able to successfully conduct the first phase of Diviyata Diviyak 4.0 under the guidance of a distinguished group including Professor Ruwanthi Perera, a renowned expert in maternal health, and consultant Mrs. Elizabeth Rahim.
Phase 02 – Donation Drive & Distribution for Mothers and Children of Rural Communities
A donation drive was conducted to help underprivileged children and mothers, with essential items being distributed to low-income pregnant mothers and children in the areas of Kurunegala, Polonnaruwa, Panadura, and Nuwara Eliya. With generous donations collected from donors all around the country, essentials such as soap, baby tops, diapers, and second-hand clothes, and toys and gifts for children were collected and distributed among underprivileged mothers & children in need. Single mothers and children with terminal illnesses were also among the beneficiaries. Clothing and footwear items were posted and couriered to ensure the essentials reached those in need.
Phase 03 – Livelihood Support and Community Involvement
Phase 03 provided over 50 children from the Mother Theresa Orphanage aged from newborn to 4.5 years of age with special gifts, completely funded by We Creations. Additionally, we provided children whose birthdays were on nearby dates with a birthday celebration, with the support of Cake Craft by U. The children were gifted new party outfits, shoes, toys, and a birthday cake, which was shared among all. Joy was spread as members mingled with the children, dressing them up and having fun with them.
Phase 04: Suwapath – Mobile Clinic for Underprivileged Children
A mobile clinic titled Swapath was conducted for underprivileged children in coordination with the services of a doctor from the Ministry of Health, Moratuwa, at ‘Little Birds’ Early Childhood Development Institute. An early childhood development officer and a midwife had arranged the session. This mobile clinic, organised for over 50 children, mainly children under the age of 6, measured the BMI of the children in the clinic session, and advice and health check-ups were provided by the doctor, followed by counselling provided to parents. This clinic was conducted free of charge to grant equal access to medical treatment. Preparation for this session entailed continuous follow-ups with authorities in order to gain the help of a medical professional, as first attempts at outreach were met with challenges.
Phase 05: Autism Ceylon (Sri Lanka’s First Bilingual Autism Self-Help and Resource Website Launch)
Autism Ceylon, Sri Lanka’s first bilingual autism self-help and resource website, was developed to assist parents of autistic children. A carefully thought-out PR campaign was initiated to make the project inclusive and relevant, with sensory needs kept in mind, and all posts and videos made using light colours and pastels in order to avoid overstimulating neurodivergent adults and children. The team collaborated with the mother of Emily, (A young girl who has Autism) who has very close experience with Autism. With her permission, her experience was used as a platform for the website, promoting acceptance of neurodiversity. With the collaboration of Táiï orefjl= iu. f,dalh olsuq, the website gained widespread attention, with over 800 viewers in the first 12 hours after the launch.
Diviyata Diviyak 4.0 was more than just a community service driven project—it was an initiative that challenged boundaries and shattered doors open for disadvantaged groups. We managed to cover many Sustainable Development Goals, namely No Poverty, Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Partnerships for the Goals & Sustainable Cities and Communities. Through learning, awareness, and empowerment, the Rotaract Club of University of Sri Jayewardenepura persists in making waves, so that not a single mother or child remains behind.
- Rtr. Chathumi Galhenage
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