'Sunshine' in Colombo's South shanties

Through many volunteers, the Shanthi Movement helps those on canal banks with community projects

By Hiranthi Fernando

Over the years, the canal banks in the city became home to thousands of shanty dwellers. Unauthorised temporary dwellings with no amenities sprang up like mushrooms. Seeking work in the city, with no place to live, more and more squatters set up their homes on vacant lots along the canal banks. Life in these congested and unhygienic conditions was difficult. Violence and crime held sway especially among the youth.

Twenty years ago, it was in such a situation that the Shanthi Community Animation Movement went in to work among these deprived communities in Colombo South.

The force behind the Shanthi Movement is Rev. Fr. M. Catalano, a Jesuit priest who has devoted fifty years of his life to service in Sri Lanka. For the past twenty years he has worked selflessly to improve the conditions of the shanty dwellers on the canal banks. Travelling on a motor bicycle, he visits these communities daily. "During the riots that broke out in 1977, many of the culprits were found to be from the canal banks," Fr. Catalano recalled. "It was after the riots that we first started our work among them." Together with a band of 60 to 70 full time or part time volunteers, Fr. Catalano has accomplished an amazing amount of good work.

Concentrating on the canal banks of Colombo South, the Shanthi Movement has established centres at 14 locations. Seven nursery schools serve the needs of 175 pre-school age children. Day centres for elders have been set up in seven areas. Vocational training classes in sewing, typing driving are conducted for the young people by volunteer trainers. Medical clinics, self employment projects and mothers groups are also organised.

The movement is fortunate in having the services of some retired professionals who work on a purely voluntary basis. Dr. Terrence Perera, a former Director of Maternal and Child Health, looks after its health care aspect. "We are providing primary health care to deprived communities served by Shanthi," Dr. Perera said. "We care for various age groups, from pre-school children to elders. Our staff is limited but we try to cope." According to Dr. Perera, clinics are conducted in seven centres every fortnight. Two other doctors, Dr. Ms. Wijeratne and Dr. Ms. Fernando assist Dr. Perera. The Canadian High Commission supports the health care effort.

"Our main emphasis is care of the pre-school child. We try to promote total development of the child in deprived communities," Dr. Perera said. "Respiratory infections, malnutrition, protein energy malnutrition, worm infestation and dental caries are the main ailments we have to deal with. These ailments need constant care, which we try to give. We also emphasise educating the mother regarding the health of her child. Community workers are encouraged to work with mothers. As an educational tool for mothers, we work with the growth charts, which are filled in at the clinics and given to the mother."

The community-based programme for elders was started about ten years ago. Elders Day Centres have been established and community workers visit the homes of those who are unable to get about. "We feel the only realistic way to look after elders in Sri Lanka is to care for them in the community," Dr. Perera said.

A survey conducted by the Movement found that over 75% of the elders had some form of illness. 84% were under-nourished and 42% were unsure of their next meal. Loneliness seemed to affect a high percentage of elders, even when they live with the family.

"Community workers have been advised to spend time talking to them," Dr. Perera said. Further, he said, carers of the elders are taken for granted. A high percentage of them are old themselves. "One old man, Suppiah has only one arm and one leg. The daughter who is looking after him has to go to work. They need a daily meal, which we are unable to provide, though we give them a meal at the Day Centre. A family support system is needed to look after the elders. Institutional care of elders is not the answer."

About twelve elderly men and women were at the Siddhartha Road centre last Tuesday, together with two volunteer ladies. This day centre is open on Tuesdays and Fridays. Margaret who looks after this centre as well as two other centres has worked here for ten years. The elders who come in the morning start off with a small session of exercises conducted by a volunteer. After a cup of tea, they relax and chat to each other.

Those who are literate, read the newspapers to the others. Seventy five year old Shanmugam earns a little pocket money by making envelopes and little packets for dispensing drugs at the medical centres.

Chandrasena, another elder, delivers lunch packets to the elders who are no longer able to come to the centre due to illness. Eighty five year old Rosalin, who is deaf in addition to suffering from cancer, never misses a day at the centre. Edwin, who is seventy five years old is a widower and now lives with his son at Miriswatte. He travels twelve miles to the centre twice a week. "If I can find a place to stay, I would like to stay here," Edwin said. Many of these elders have a hard life at home and enjoy this morning break from the monotony. A medical clinic is held at the centres once a month. Meanwhile a new year celebration with games and prizes is being planned for the elders at the children's' park on Havelock Road.

At the nursery school at Siddhartha Road, 46 children between three and five were under the supervision of the teacher and two helpers. Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim, they all study together amicably in all three languages, participating in the various religious and cultural festivals that are organised. The children are provided with milk and biscuits daily and some grain is given twice a week. Thriposha is given once a month as many are under-nourished. A doctor visits every month.

For the youth, various vocational training classes are organised by volunteer trainers. At the Sewing Centre at Bodhinukkarama Road, Sandamali, teaches hand embroidery, machine embroidery and Juki machine operation to 14 young girls from the canal banks. She receives a small allowance which she shares with a friend who helps her at the centre. Sandamali herself was trained at this centre by the late Ms. Benedicta de Silva an experienced teacher of art and embroidery, who rendered valuable voluntary service to the Shanthi Movement.

"After we started this centre in 1980, girls in the area, came here after they left school," Fr. Catalano said. "It helped them to get away from their congested shanty environment each morning. Many who were trained at the centre are in garment factories here and abroad. They feel a sense of pride and achievement that they can produce beautiful work like this. We never had to close the sewing centre even during the racial disturbances. Hundreds of girls from the canal shanty communities have passed through this centre."

A sponsorship programme, the Sunshine Project, whereby a under-privileged family is sponsored by another family who can afford to do so, is another undertaking of Shanthi. Fr. Catalano regrets that the number of sponsors have reduced due to loss of contact.

For the disabled in the canal bank communities, a doctor visits them at home. Two physiotherapists also go to the houses and help them.

"Since our workers are volunteers, our strength is goodwill," Fr. Catalano said. "Our weakness is lack of continuity when volunteers have to go away or stop their work. We have some organisations such as FORUT, Direct Help Organisation, Helpage, and Caritas Holland that support us with funds to carry on the work. My parish and family back in Italy also promote the collection of contributions. We have 170 sponsors from Italy. What we are able to do is nothing compared to the dire needs of our people among whom we live. Living conditions along the canal banks are much improved now with better housing and more facilities. The human development of the people has to be taken care of by upgrading their education, economic and social opportunities. The youth problem has to be tackled area by area. With more volunteers, we can achieve much more."

More Plus * A view from the hills

Return to the Plus Contents