The Rebuilding Lives Programme (RLP) is continuing with the good work it has been doing in Seenigama and its regions, toiling to improve the lives of the less privileged, the psychologically affected and the various victims of society.

Working with Youngsters
Recently the RLP team tackled a fragile subject with a very difficult age group.

A group of adolescents that attended
the RLP coordinated workshop

‘Anger Management and Adolescent Issues’ was the umbrella theme of a workshop which the RLP team coordinated targeting teenage boys and girls. Under the main umbrella theme sub-themes of ‘emotions’, ‘stress’ & ‘gender confusion’ were given individual attention.  

Expertly handling this difficult theme was Professor Michelle Motha, an Indian national, of the American National College, Colombo. She was assisted by the College’s senior psychology students.

Prof. Michelle Motha (extreme left)
and the ANC team

The four-hour workshop started at 10AM with Professor Motha introducing the subject and a rundown of the day’s agenda to the 250 youngsters present. Due to the large numbers in attendance the group was split up and the workshop conducted at 3 separate locations.

“Anger Management & Adolescent Issues”
workshop in progress

At each location the teenagers were split into groups and two RLP counselors were put in charge of each group along with three to four volunteer ANC psychology students. The aim of splitting up into groups was so that they could ask questions freely and interact with the counselors and ANC students.

At the end of the day Professor Motha hailed the programme a success. Of note was that the teenagers spoke openly about the issues confronting them. Some of these were issues dealing with fits of rage, self esteem, leadership, clique rivalry, their looks and dress, friendships and problems in dealing with their parents.

Touching on RLP’s effort to tackle anger management amongst adolescents the founder/trustee of the Foundation of Goodness (FoG) Kushil Gunasekera said “One of the foremost qualities of goodness is non-anger which we need to teach youngsters at an early age for their future betterment. Curtailing anger makes you so much happier and those around you as well.”

A Four-in-One event
On 18 October 2008 was a special one at the Foundation of Goodness (FoG) as four significant annual events were commemorated in one programme. The Rebuilding Lives Programme was involved in this combined event which marked World Mental Health Day, Elders Day, Children’s Day & Teacher’s Day. 

A distinguished guest lights the traditional
oil lamp while children and parents look on

The commemorative was held at the Victoria Gardens community hall had well over 300 attendees. It began with religious observances and remembrance of the late Prof. Padmal de Silva, mentor of the RLP founders.  

Senior citizens arrive for the event
which also marked Elders Day

The highlights of the programme were a speech on ‘thoughts to be instilled in us for a successful life’ by famous motivational speaker Mr. Mahanama Dodampe, a speech on ‘the importance of mental health & counseling’ by a girl from Anula Wijerama Girls Orphanage, a speech on ‘teacher-student inter-relationships and negative consequences if the relationship does not exist’ by a teacher from Akurala School, a drama recital put on by the Akurala & Kahawa Children’s programmes, garlanding of elders from a number of Elders’ Homes in the region, a speech on ‘the importance of listening to children to make their world beautiful and meaningful’ by Akurala Children’s Programme and a drama by the children of Anula Wijerama Girls Orphanage. The programme ended with an appreciation speech by RLP team member Samanthi Priyadarshini. RLP co-ordinator Fazana Ibrahim spearheaded the organizing of this special event, which was hailed a success.  

Motivational speaker Mahanama Dodampe
addresses the gathering and children
put on colourful acts

Distinguished guests and visitors that were in attendance were Director of Baurs Company Ltd. - Mr. Mahanama Dodampe, the chief incumbent of the Akurala and Kahawa temples - Ven. Naran Owita Ananda Tissa thera, priest of Gorakagoda Dhammikarama - Ven. Panditha Akurala Manjula Tissa thera, representative of Creative Action  - Ms. L.D. Jayanthi, principal of Dimbulduwa Primary School - Mrs. K. Chandrani, Buddhist Sunday School teacher at Akurala Sri Vidyananda - Mrs. Vijitha Nelum Malkanthi, famous Sinhalese lyricist - Mr. Wilfred Dharmawickrema.

Participating in the days event were – children and parents from Akurala and Kahawa villages, Children’s Goodness Club members from Udumulla and Seenigama, children from Anula Wijerama Girls Orphanage, Balapitiya, senior citizens from D.F. Perera Abhaya Siriwardena Elder's Home, Balapitiya, Polwatte Elder's Home, and Sarvodaya Elder's Home, in Wellawatte, Hikkaduwa.

Skills Enhancement
To help the RLP team of 8 mental health workers that has been serving Seenigama and it regions, many training programmes were organized in 2008. These include training on Suicide and Self Harm, AIDS Prevention, Counseling Supervision and Training in Mental Health, Mental States that Affect Suicide and Counseling Methods, Types of Mental Health Problems and Therapeutic Interventions, Mental Health Problems and Treatment and Substance Misuse Counseling. Involved in training the trainers were Sumithrayo, Maharagama Youth Council, Psychosocial Consultant Evangeline Ekanayake, Prof. Jeanne Marecek of the USA, RLP founder Malkanthi Hettiarachchi and Dr. Shamil Wanigaratna.

Throughout 2008 RLP conducted 298 child resilience building programmes, 88 counseling programmes (at orphanages and elders homes) and 8 mental awareness programmes in which 268 people participated (encompassing children, senior citizens, parents and prisoners)

2009 will see RLP continuing the good work while expanding its programmes and the number of people it reaches.

                                        
”Life is not advancement. It is growth.
It does not move upwards but expands outward,
in all directions”
- Russel G. Alexander

2009.01.19