Youth from North and South Recognized for Their assistance during recent Floods

Saturday, 30 April 2011 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

In recognition of the assistance given to flood affected communities, over 90 youth from Kilinochchi, Matara and Vavuniya received certificates from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Youth Service Council.

The certificates were awarded this month at a ceremony in Kilinochchi.

At the beginning of this year, Sri Lanka suffered its worst floods in decades. The devastating floods inundated 12 out of the country’s 25 districts and displaced nearly 200,000 people.

Youth from the northern and southern regions of Sri Lanka worked together, with assistance from USAID - the development agency of the U.S. Government – to help many of these people. They cleaned community buildings and residential areas in Madhu, Cheddikkulam, and Vavuniya divisions. The clean-up activities also provided an opportunity for these young people to build relationships and establish networks with each other and with people in the areas where they worked.

“We never had an opportunity to interact with people in the North because of the distance and also because we feared travelling to the area during the war. We were very happy to be a part of this USAID-supported project as it provided us with an opportunity to work together with ’our new friends‘ and also to assist flood victims. As we have now been to the North, it would also make us very happy if a similar opportunity is made available for the northern youth to travel to the South,” said V. Edirisinghe from Matara.

Another participant, M. Muhunthini from Kilinochchi said, “It was a remarkable experience to interact and work with the young people from southern Sri Lanka and also to help people who were severely affected by and displaced due to floods. The USAID intervention created an avenue for the youth to share experiences, communicate with each other and form new friendships. We have never had such an opportunity before.”

Mine awareness training was also organized for all participating youths. As a result, during the clean-up drive in Madhu, young people identified areas containing landmines. Mine clearance groups were called to inspect the area and notify the proper mine clearing organizations. The activity was part of USAID’s program to assist in the stabilization of conflict-affected communities in the North and East.

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided development and humanitarian assistance in developing countries worldwide for nearly 50 years. Since 1956, USAID/Sri Lanka, part of U.S. Embassy Sri Lanka, has invested over $2 billion to benefit all the people of Sri Lanka.