It takes a nation

A club with positive minds

The period between 2014 and 2016 was a restless time to parents, teachers and students in Eravurpattu off Batticaloa, East Sri Lanka. Murder and suicide was just a mark of youth unrest that prevailed in the area. The communities were in utter shock but had also realized that they need to work on the issue.

It was during this time that a group of school children from the area started a programme in collaboration with World Vision Lanka, to address the causes of Youth unrest in their village. Suresh Gnanapragasam, from World Vision Lanka, initiated the programme and passed on to the children with a goal of healing the troubled minds of the Youth.

The programme encouraged students to take a leading role in managing their emotions and expressing them in a more creative way. The group has since formed two clubs in the area to spread the message and engage more youth in their activities.

This year they were selected to present at the National Youth Summit and share their experience with other young people.

It takes a nation

to end violence against children

The recent years have seen a disturbing rise in all forms of violence against children in Sri Lanka. Almost every child experiences some form of violence on a daily basis.

As Sri Lanka is one of twelve ‘pathfinding’ countries, the government is taking the lead to end violence including abuse, neglect and exploitation against children by 2030.

In a drive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Government and non-government organisations that work towards the wellbeing of children launched National Partnership to End Violence Against Children (NPEVAC) in June 2017.

World Vision’s global campaign ‘It takes a world’ was rolled out in Sri Lanka last October as ‘It takes a nation’ with a special focus on ending sexual and physical violence against children.

In Sri Lanka…

14.4%

of girl children 13.8%

of boy children experience sexual abuse.

80.4%

of students experience some form of corporal punishment during a school a term.

National Child Protection Authority receives over

9,000

complaints of violence against children every year.