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“Beauty from the Ashes” Project sponsored by Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA)
The Marga Institute and Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka launched a project titled “Beauty from the Ashes” where initially children from the Eastern Province will be trained to use e-art as a means of visual expression that would bring about reconciliation among all ethnic groups. Marga Institute obtained a grant from ICTA Sri Lanka to commence this project and continue the same initially for a period of four months.
30 years of separatist civil war and strife has had an immeasurable effect on all communities living in Sri Lanka. . Undoubtedly it is the children who have been the most affected and traumatized by the war. Even though the hostilities and armed conflict is now over there is work to be done in the area of nation building, rehabilitation and reconciliation. As an independent research institute and as an organization which has committed itself to civil society work, the Marga Institute is committed to the task of bringing together all communities leading to ethnic harmony in Sri Lanka. The institute has already worked in the area of peace and reconciliation and conducted projects among children, particularly in the eastern province. “Beauty from the Ashes” is yet another initiative of the Marga Institute to bring all communities together and rebuild and repair the ties that existed between the communities.
In a nutshell, the idea of the project is to use E- Art and internet based communication to facilitate children in Ampare, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts to express their emotions and to communicate with each other and children living in other areas of the country in a creative manner. The creative work will be also uploaded on the web and in latter stages links will be also established between Sri Lanka and with other countries that have undergone similar internal strife. For proper healing to take place in Sri Lanka, there must be admission, acceptance, confession and forgiveness. Beauty for ashes has looked at all these aspects and hopes to bring young children “together” through e-art
The Marga Institute believes that this programme will not only enable children and youth express their personal experiences of the ethnic conflict but also create a strong platform to build a communication network among children and contribute to peace building in Sri Lanka.
Beauty from the Ashes (Status Report as at 15th January 2010)
First steps
- Obtained approval from the Provincial Education Ministry in Trincomalee. ( 4th October 2009)
- All 12 Educational Zones of the Eastern Province is governed by the Provincial Education Ministry in Trincomalee
- Due to GCE O Level Exams and Term Holidays we were informed that we may not be able to collect drawings from respective schools in the Eastern Province.
- Letters were sent to teachers in charge of aesthetic studies and art in each Sector/ Zone office of the education department
- Two offices covered the Zone Offices of the Ampare District during the 2nd week of November. ( Ampare, Dehiyattakandiya, MahaOya, Kalmunei, Akkarapathu and Samanthurai )
- Batticaloa District was visited during the 3rd week of November. We learned that the District is now divided into 4 zones once we visited the area. ( Batticaloa, Padirippu, Kalkudah Tamil and Kalkudah Muslim)
- Trincomalee District was visited during the first week of December. (Trincomalee, Kantale, Muttur and Kinya)
- Official approvals and letters were obtained from all Directors of Education
- Advisors to Aesthetic Studies in each Zone office were contacted and it was decided that drawings from schools will be sent to each Zone Office of the area.
- Letters and leaflets were sent to all schools that have computer facilities
- We have already received over 850 drawings from Ampare. We have also received 57 drawings from Batticaloa.
