Caritas Sri Lanka - SEDEC

“UNITY THROUGH RECONCILIATION”

The Lenten theme chosen by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka for the year 2012 is ‘ Unity Through Reconciliation’.

There is no doubt that  this theme has been chosen taking the signs of the times into close consideration and based on a matter very  dear to the hearts and minds of all Christians and all other people of goodwill.

The Season of Lent is a call to follow Christ’s austerities.

Austerity is the necessary first step towards attaining blessedness. It is a measure of personal and spiritual discipline, in appearance, manner and attitude. Austerity is a conscious effort toward a modest and unassuming lifestyle.

Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara, Child Specialist attached to the De Soysa Maternity Home in Colombo was the Resource Person at a two  day workshop held on 15th and 16th February 2012 in the SEDEC Auditorium, on the subject “Counselling Traumatized Children”.

A 3-day workshop will be held from 29th February to 2nd March 2012 for around 25 field officers engaged in the IHDtCE program in the Dioceses of Colombo, Chilaw, Kurunegala and Anuradhapura with the objective of introducing the concept of advocacy in relation to Community Empowerment, to capacitate the staff on different aspects of lobbying and to develop guidelines for diocesan level strategies in this area of activity.

ADDRESS BY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR SOUTH AFRICA IN SRI LANKA AT THE STUDY SESSION ON LLRC REPORT HELD AT SEDEC AUDITORIUM ON 31^ST JANUARY 2012.

COMPARISON BETWEEN TRC AND LLRC RECOMMENDATIONS

A 3–day workshop will be held from  22nd – 24th February  in Badulla from around 22 field officers  engaged in the IHDtCE programme in the Dioceses of Kandy, Badulla, Galle and Ratnapura with the objective of introducing the concept  of advocacy in relation to Community Empowerment, to capacitate the staff on different aspects of lobbying and to develop guidelines for diocesan level strategies in this area of activity.

A 3-day workshop  was held from 18-20 January 2012 at Green Centre, Tholangamuwa to discuss the current implementation strategies of the Caritas livelihoods development program and to develop methodologies for remedying the weaknesses in such strategies. A group of 24 diocesan representatives working in the IHDtCE program in 12 Diocesan Centres participated in the sessions

Around 40 students of the National Institute of Social Development (NISD) who are training to be Social Workers took part in an open forum arranged by the Caritas Women's Desk under the caption " Social Welfare of migrant workers and their families", held at the BMICH Committee Room in Colombo on  26th January 2012.

The recently released Report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), with special reference to its important recommendations, was discussed during a study session held at the SEDEC Auditorium on 31st January 2012, facilitated by a group of distinguished resource persons. A number of Priests, Religious, academics and civil society leaders were present.

Around 100 members of Clergy and Religious Congregations who are involved in the care of children met at a consultation arranged by Caritas Sri Lanka SEDEC on 24th January 2012 under the theme “SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT IN CHILD RIGHTS AND CHILD PROTECTION”. The event was held at the SEDEC Auditorium with the participation of Priests and Religious from several dioceses, moderated by Dr. Shehan Gunawardene, Attorney-at-Law.