Caritas Sri Lanka - SEDEC

A de-briefing session regarding the midterm evaluation of the Integral Human Development Through Community Empowerment (IHDTCE) Program carried out by Mr S Arockiam, External Evaluator was held at the SEDEC auditorium on 22nd August 2011.

During the past few weeks, Mr Arockiam had visited the Diocesan Centres and undertaken field trips to meet members of the village level animation groups in order to assess the effectiveness of the IHDTCE program which had been started in January 2010. The program focuses on empowering the marginalized and vulnerable communities to achieve holistic development which promotes the good of every person and the whole person, solidarity which promotes the rights and responsibilities of every person, and justice and peace which ensure respect for the dignity of every person while promoting a just and peaceful society.

At the de-briefing session, the External Evaluator set out his detailed findings and recommendations to an audience comprising the Director and staff of the National Centre as well as Diocesan Directors and their staff. Country Representatives of supporting  partners, Mehul Savla of Catholic Relief Services and Beppe Padron  of Caritas Italiana were also present at this event.

Welcoming the participants to this meeting, the National Director of Caritas Sri Lanka, Rev Fr George Sigamoney said that the IHDTCE Program was one of the Strategic Priorities set out in the Strategic Plan of the organisation for the eight-year period  2009 - 2017. He traced the origin of the IHDTCE program to the year 1999 when SEDEC initiated the National Animation Program as a paradigm shift from charity and welfare to social animation and empowerment.