Young People on Course for Reconciliation

Healing war wounds and overcoming barriers

Whereas in the past the focus was more on hatred and prejudice between Sinhalese and Tamil communities, today's conflicts arise primarily from religious convictions and power relations between Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. Generational conflicts and gender inequality are other major social challenges.

Our Crossing Boundaries project targets youth and young adults to promote a vision of inclusive and more equitable futures. We train and support committed Sri Lankan young women and men in the areas of communication and leadership, conflict transformation, network building and promotion of cultural diversity, and participation in democratic processes, so that they can implement activities in their social environment - youth clubs, schools, families and communities. Since the end of 2019, this work has been increasingly supported via an internet platform and social media. Through exchange programs, young people visit their peers in other parts of the country to build relationships and positive attitudes. Particularly motivated and competent young leaders are further trained as youth ambassadors to drive transformation and change with other like-minded initiatives in the country. This includes supporting young men and women as active and informed citizens in democratic processes such as local debates on development and demands to the government or participation in elections.
To ensure that young people are increasingly heard, adult women and men are trained as "mentors" to accompany the young people in their processes. This also includes involving the various religious leaders for inter-religious dialogue. 

The participants at the youth meetings talk about their experiences and preconceptions. They discuss traumatic experiences – both their own and those of others. Above all, they learn how many experiences they have in common with their peers from other ethnic groups. When staying with families of a different ethnicity, they share in the host family’s everyday life and come to understand that the main concerns and problems in Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim families are the same: food, health, education and the question when and how young adults can strike out on their own.

They bring their insights back to their villages and organize workshops themselves on reconciliation and conflict management for youths and young adults. Our partners put them in touch with politically influential figures, moreover, to ensure that their efforts towards healing a war-torn society will gain traction – and due recognition from the authorities.