ISHR’s Danielle Goldberg meets with Suchith Abeyewickreme, Program Manager at non-profit organization Saravadaya in Colombo, Sri Lanka (April 2011).

The Peace-building and Rights Program works in Sri Lanka with the aim of advancing post-conflict peace-building through (i) dialogue, (ii) education, and (iii) capacity building. Its overall goal is to help Sri Lanka realize its potential by helping address recent and root causes of conflict.

Conflict Resolution Curriculum

Peace-building and Rights Program Director, David Phillips and Program Coordinator Danielle Goldberg developed a “Conflict Resolution Curriculum: Fostering Social Harmony in Sri Lanka.” The curriculum provides a comprehensive course incorporating theoretical and practical lessons on individual interaction and intergroup understanding. Working with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Higher Education, the curriculum was vetted by during a series of meetings in Sri Lanka with Ministry of Higher Education and University Grant Commission officials, student counselors and professors from across Sri Lanka, university students and civil society (April 2011).

Phillips visited Sri Lanka, including Jaffna, to assess conditions.  Phillips met with Sri Lankan, U.S. and Indian government officials as well as leading Sri Lankan NGOs and academicians from the University of Jaffna (March 2011).

Goldberg and Bonnie Miller ran a Training of Trainers program on the Conflict Resolution Curriculum in Colombo for Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Higher Education (July 6–8, 2011). 92 Sri Lankans selected by the Ministry of Higher Education participated. Deepika, one of the participants, wrote a blog article about her experience.

The Ministry plans a follow-up training to expand its facilitator cadre to approximately 150 people who will lead a short course for university entrants in Sri Lanka this year. This course is part of the Ministry’s 3-month mandatory Pre-Orientation Programme to be carried out in regional centers throughout the country. A 3-day course on social harmony and conflict resolution will also be offered to university seniors later in the academic year.

Hon. S B Dissanayake, Minister or Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Higher Education, discusses the program with participants.

Goldberg and Miller discuss curriculum material with participants.

Participants present their vision and action plan for future generations in Sri Lanka.

Miller with Training of Trainers participants.