From the start, I feel I’ve had the self-confidence to face difficult things – however learning how to best work with other people is always a challenge!
Since 1996, I’ve spent a lot of time doing social and environmental work in Sri Lanka. As a result of my work, I became an organizer in the Regional Youth Club at Kegalle. In 2001, I was elected the President of 54 youth clubs
At the same time I was involved in my hometown with a non-government organization called IMSO Foundations (under the United National Development Programs.) Young volunteers for this group need to work independently – within guidelines – which I appreciated, because I wanted to develop those skills for myself.
When elected president of 54 youth clubs, I decided there should be more programs for education, culture, sport, economy, etc. Some of main new programs were:
* 30th new Liberia for urban areas. Founded by government provincial developments program
* Sports instruments donation programs to youth clubs.
* Youth educational, cultural, religious, and skill development programs.
* Programs that fostered self-reliance (example: I organized one youth camp Technical School. While youths are doing work, they can keep the money they earn as pocket money)
* Land development programs: villagers and youths helped to develop difficult roads/other areas. It's a learning experience to work with others - hard but good for girls and boys to develop trust and work together
According to my figures, 45 projects have been done during my time as President of the regional youth club, contributing time and labor worth approximately SLRs 1,000,000. Also, my volunteer service to the environment combined with IMSO Foundations mad for a project worth SLRs 500,000 – which was launched at the Nilapalagammana Neiyanthuduwa Forest.
District Youth Club
In 2002, I became as a president of the Sbaragamuwa Provincial youth club including 12 districts. I felt at that moment that I had an opportunity to do social work for more to people in my life.
As the President of regional youth club, Kegalle, I understood that youth volunteers need a good guidelines to manage the leaders of their district (since I couldn’t go around to each of the more than 400 youth clubs in the villages!) Hence, top management matters greatly…
The District Mandalaya approved my management program – we held it in the Salka Hotel. The workshop gave us a better guarantee that the social work we were doing would be able to continue in the long term
Suddenly the Sabaragamuwa Province Council had founded the Kegalle district youth club for the development of youth skills and leadership! Soon we held 12 youth camps in the Sabaragamuwa Province – I'm happy that more than 100 boys and girls participated and provided skill, leadership, showed hidden talents on so many activities. In three days, camp was launched with big projects for rural development: new roads, waterlines to difficult areas, help to common placement in villages.
The Sabaragamuwa Province Council offered Rs. 180,000 to Kegalle District Youth Club. In return, the youth camps had done social works more than Rs.500, 000.
National Youth service Council of the National Youth Federation of Sri Lanka.
If someone asked me, what was the happiest moment in your life…I’d say it’s when I became President of the Foreign Sections, National Youth Federation of Sri Lanka (NYF of SL). My service was from 2003-2004.
I was selected for the NYF of SL from the Kegalle youth club – so let me just take this chance to thank all the youth members of Kegalle and National Youth Service Council (NYCS) officers.
The NYF of SL depends on the NYCS. It’s principally funded by government of Sri Lanka. There are so many sections for developing youth community skills. Whatever goal you hope work towards in your life, you can make it!
Whoever wants to become a volunteer youth, NYCS has openings. The location is Colombo at Maharagama. NYF of SL is mainly created by young youth (aged 18-29) who are selected from own their own district. Every proposal is begun from NYF of SL. Within one year I coordinated and participated so many activities (all the while continuing with my village social works and youth clubs activities in regional district) including:
· Sri Lanka - Canada youth exchange program, 2002
· The national youth sport meet- Sugathdas stadium at Colombo.
· Foud for youth clubs- National Plaque Day- 23rd May.
· Sri Lanka - British youth exchange program, 2003.
· Sri Lanka - Canada youth exchange program, 2003.
· India youth conference - Asian youths community.
· Nippon Maru Cruse Ship.
Although, In the same time I continued my village social works, youth clubs activities in regional, district.
Job opportunities for volunteer youths.
I encourage local NGOs, not only for the environment but also about youth unrest. I had a part on the a local educational project to develop rural ares - creating youth job opportunities on all islands. The name was Rural Educational Development project.
Next Step, I want to your help. I expect to do sustainable development with the environment, protecting animals under the new communities, help for education development with children, youth and their needs.
I hope that by now, you have gotten an understanding my social work through to my story. I want your help to do more work and to create new a community!
Jatila Mahesh
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