Savisthri conducted a training workshop on developing leadership skills

Savisthri conducted a training workshop on developing leadership skills for District members on 27^th – 28^th May 2012 at Sarvodaya Training Centre, Bandaragama.

The objective of the training is to view Savisthiri member’s consideration & suggestion in new development projects in the reorganized Savisthri structure and to enhance their leadership skills to identify their roles at national and district level.

Five participants from each district comprising of the Hon. President, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer of District women’s collectives and two others who are active with Savisthri Programmers participated in the leadership training workshop. 

The training method included collective exercise, guided discussion and open brainstorming sessions. Participants get to know each other and the existing situation of the target population in each District. Macro pictures covering social, economic, political and cultural aspects were discussed & analyzed by participants with guidance from resource person. The problem faced by people in the respective areas was discussed and the causes and effects of those problems identified. The session is to understand the way of determining how the power should be vested with and to empower the participant’s knowledge and enable them to understand the existing domination structure in target population where the poor, marginalized, vulnerable are excluded from communities based on class, ethnicity, gender & caste.  

A gap analysis of the existing situation and expected situation was discussed on the second day. Development is the right of the people and they have the right to participate in designing development projects with special emphasis on women. It is the responsibility of the people to actively participate in development project activities to contribute towards a change in society.  The activities for expected situation were analyzed with present activities and how it will contribute towards Savisthri’s vision & mission. It was observed that the present activities contributed more towards economic development than social and there was consensus among participants that Savisthri need to focus on activities on social development.

A group session to develop future action plan was discussed by member on following matters,

To include new villages and new members in the projects.

Strengthen & organize the small groups, mini society and district women 

collectives

Expand activities in education, manufacturing, service oriented to promote 

Savisthri Vision. 

Challenges…and difficulties.

Each District group will develop their future plans and send it to National office in the first week of July.  

Further, the workshop covered sessions on leadership and its qualities such as knowledge, skills and attitude etc, Savisthri Vision and mission, identify & select quality leaders in mini societies, small groups and district women collectives that they are dedicated to their respective community contributing to Savisthri vision and mission. 

 Finally an evaluation was held among participants. We found the workshop was useful and the participants were able to understand the responsibility of Savisthri members. Many are applying the lessons learnt during training workshop in the field sites. 

Fish trap Makers in Poonachchimunai

In the village Poonachchimunai, south of Batticaloa town, many pursue fishing as their livelihood. They fish both to the  ses and the lagoon. Batticaloa lagoon is the largest lagoon in Sri Lanka and known for its resources of fish.  There are many who make their ends meet by fishing in the lagoon. They use nets and fishing rods from canoes for fishing in the deep stretches in the middle of the lagoon.  Those who fish in shallow waters use a variety of devices including fishing rods, casting nets, baskets, fish traps, karak gedi (a conical shaped trap with which large fishes are surrounded and taken out using bare hand),  woven fishing traps etc. 

Fish traps are used in many parts of the country mostly to catch fish from streams but fish trap makers of Poonachchimunai make a kind of fish trap that can be placed in the lagoon bed for fish to creep in. These traps are examined at regular intervals by the fishermen who own those to remove trapped fish.

For the production of this specific fish trap, the branch of a particular kind of palm wal indi that grows in abundance in the wild is used. This particular palm looks very much like a miniature date palm. Its branches are used to make traditional brooms too in rural areas. For the purpose of making fish traps, the leaves are removed and the stem is split into two or three depending on the thickness.

Once the raw materials are ready weaving starts. Roughly heart shaped top and bottom sides and the long stripe that joins those sides are woven separately and later they are joined maintaining the required shape. There is a funnel shaped structure which one can see in the above photographs fitted on to the front side of the trap to complete the device.   The fish creep into the trap through this funnel shaped structure and enter the trap. The funnel tapers towards the end in order that it expands as fishes enter but it is not easy for fish to come out. In a way, it is like a one way valve.

      

 The trap above is finished and ready for the buyer. The fisherman who uses the trap places it with the under currents in mind. It is placed facing the flowing direction of the current with which the fish also swim and some of them would enter the trap. If placed carelessly, the trap too will be carried with the current. It seems that one trap is useable over a period of six months. 

 

The advantage here is that the raw materials are environment friendly. Once discarded, the traps can be burnt. In the water, it does not add any harmful chemicals. The holes are large enough for small fish to escape once the trap is lifted out of the water to collect trapped fish. 

The fish trap makers mention that one person needs one working day to put together one trap since the parts are made separately. The fish trap makers mentioned that they sell one at Rs. 1500.00 but the profit is less because they have to go a distance to find raw materials. If a fish trap maker can invest on hiring a lorry, it is possible to bring more raw material and make more traps enabling them to earn more. At present, they find it difficult to save enough for such investment. This traditional device requires the attention of organizations helping people to improve their livelihoods.

“VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS VIOLENCE AGAINST HUMANITY”

http://www.passionparade.blogspot.com/2013/05/violence-against-humanity.html

http://www.ceylontoday.lk/59-33761-news-detail-violence-against-humanity.html

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Human-rights-activists-denounce-growing-violence-and-discrimination-against-women-28030.html

“VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS VIOLENCE AGAINST HUMANITY”

Culmination of the Campaign to Sign a Petition

Savisthri, convener of Women’s Action for Social Justice (WASJ), a network of women’s organizations launched a campaign to sign a petition demanding action against escalating incidencts of violence against women. This commenced on 14^th of December 2012 at a function to commemorate Women’s Day at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. The objective was to request international and national authorities for organized action to combat this menace.

The petition had been signed by the public in the districts where Savisthri and WASJ members implement their programmes. Over the last five months this activity  managed to raise public awareness and it seemed that people appreciated the idea. The response had been encouraging. The final discussion was held at the Public Library Auditorium Colombo on 23^rd of May 2013. after which a petition had been handed over to the UN representative in Colombo and action already taken to hand over the petition to this Excellency the President of the Republic of Sri Lanka and Hon. Ministers of Justice and Womens’ Affairs.

This discussion included a panel discussion with the participation of four leading activists. The agenda included a panel discussion with the participation of Ms. Menaka Kandasamy (Trade Union Leader) who discussed about protection of  women with more respect in professional domains in a country where women contribute their labour immensely and unreservedly;  Dr. Damayanthi Perera (Educationist) on  the organizing of educational system to enable combating violence in society; Mr. Dharmasiri Bandaranayake (award winning Veteran Film Director and Talented Actor) discussing as to how arts and media could be utilized to generate a cultural mind  and Mr. S G Punchihewa (Attorney at Law) on the responsibility of a citizen for a wholesome social change. Following the presentations, the audience had the opportunity to request clarifications from the speakers.

This event was attended by more than 250 representatives from member organizations of WASJ who arrived from far and near representing women from all ethnic groups and economic sectors. Presentations were interpreted in Tamil language for those from Jaffna and plantations. Savisthri took the lead in organizing this event. There were journalists from both print and electronic media which included BBC (Sinhalese sevice), Derana TV, Swarnvahini TV, The Nation newspaper, to cover the event. 

Later Miss Padma Pushpakanthi National Coordinator Savisthri and Sister Noelle Christine handed over the petition to the UN Representative, Colombo.

National Secretary delivering the 

inaugural speech.

  

Veteran film Director Dharmasiri Bandaranayaka 

delivering his speech.

Some of the participants at the discussion.

The petition being presented to the representative 

of the UN  Country Director.

May Day Rally 2013

A rally was organized by the association of ‘Working people on May Day at Price Park, Gunasinghepura, Colombo. The theme of the rally was ’Working People’s United May Day’ to unite people from sectors of fisheries, women, plantation and trade unions.  The rally started with a procession to mark the May Day and to create awareness on Socio economic & Political issues that affect the country. Several banners with messages of respect for Human Rights, improving Labour rights & standards and implementation of rule of law were carried by members of the network organizations. Savisthri and WASJ (Women’s Action for Social Justice) members distributed leaflets to public which had the printed message on ‘The struggle to protect humanity born out of love and sweat’. The 4 km procession started at 1.30pm from Price Park and ended at the same venue at 4pm.

The rally had messages from representatives of member organizations from Fisheries, Women, Trade Union, Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) and Political parties. The speakers at the rally highlighted the socio economic problems that are presently pressurising the people of the country especially in  sectors such as Fisheries, Women, Free  Trade Zone, Education etc., Issues such as land grabbing in the name of development which is affecting the fishing community, land grabbing for the high security zone in North/East for Military purpose which affects the displaced & war affected people, increase in sexual assaults an women, protection of war widows in North/East, rights abuses of working women in Economic Free Trade Zones & garment factories, problems of migration of women as domestic workers to Middle East, inadequacy of allocation of funds for higher education by Govt., etc., were mentioned by the speakers. The rally ended at 5.30 pm and was given wide coverage by electronic and print media. 

Savisthri & WASJ members at Procession

 

Savisthri & WASJ members with banner

Section of the participants at procession

Savisthri Chairperson Mrs. K.P. Somalatha
address the rally