“The goal of resolving a conflict in a relationship does not depend on victory or defeat; it is about reaching an understanding and letting go of our need to be correct.”
A conflict can take place when two or more parties have contradicting views that clash with one another. At times conflicts can occur when people misunderstand each other and leap to the wrong decision. Conflicts that are not amicably resolved can inevitably lead to arguments and resentment between opposing parties. Peacefully resolving a conflict depends on mutual respect for the other person’s or parties’ point of view.
Millions of people around the world are currently displaced by armed conflict or persecution. In fact, 90 percent (90%) of casualties in armed conflicts are civilians, half of which are children. Through service projects and Rotary programs, the Rotary family has successfully committed a project which addresses the structural causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.
With the help of the National Child Protection Authority and other government institutions, TogetherSL Team 06, which includes the Rotaract clubs of Alumni of University of Moratuwa, Australian College of Business and Technology, Colombo Heritage, Colombo Regent, Excellence, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University – Southern campus, Imperial College of Business Studies, Panadura, Pearl Island, University of Colombo Faculty of Management and Finance, and University of Sri Jayewardenepura conducts the project in Madiwela.
The families here consist of a number of 50-60 individuals. A majority of the families were low-income families suffering from poverty and a lack of basic household needs.
The team’s main objectives were to carry out a sustainable and impactful project solely focused on the Rotary focus area of “Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention”. The objectives intended on fulfilling were; attending to the villagers’ infrastructural needs, education of the children in the Madiwela area, laying out a sustainable plan for the communities in the selected area to develop their livelihood. Further, the team intended on promoting and spreading awareness on the rotary focus area Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention’, spreading social awareness on the drug menace, possible causative and corrective courses of action to resolve the crisis.
The team conducted the project in three phases; a public awareness campaign, a virtual tour of career prospects, and a vocational training workshop.
With this program successfully wrapped up, the team were able to conduct mental counseling programs for families in the Madiwela area, which genuinely managed to impact many lives
Following this worthy endeavor, the team is pleased to admit that this project has helped Rotatactors amplify the voices into a roar of victory in spreading Rotary’s message of “Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention.”
Penned By – The District Regional Engagement Team in collaboration with the Media Unit and the District Editorial Team
Leave a Reply