| ● Download Application for Volunteers and Interns |
| Description of the Different Components of the Centre : |
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| Below are brief descriptions of the areas available for you to work in as either a volunteer or an intern. If you have any further queries about these components of the Centre please contact us for further information. |
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| Library / Book Shop : |
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The Library has a very comprehensive collection of :- |
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Nearly 20,000 documents pertaining to the Sri Lanka ethnic conflict which is computerized and fully annotated in a database. We hope to collect about 100,000 documents in total. |
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Nearly 300 books related to the Sri Lanka conflict and conflict resolution which are available to the general public, particularly students for research purposes. In time we hope this to be built into a substantial collection for people to use in Sri Lanka. |
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Nearly 100 videos / DVDs related to the conflict. We hope to collect up to 1,000 videos compiling a library which brings together all available material on the conflict. |
The Book Shop sells relevant books on peace, conflict resolution and the Sri Lanka conflict as well as books on world peace heroes. |
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| Database : |
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| We hope to create a database which will present a history of Sri Lankan experience since independence, with particular focus on the rise of violent and unjust structures and relationships and the attempts to the redress these. It will also provide background information of major events in Sri Lankan history, such as the Tsunami in December 2004. Presently there is no single place where all this memory is stored. |
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| Photographic Exhibitions : |
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History of Sri Lanka Conflict |
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Peace Makers |
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Temporary Exhibitions |
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| Conflict History : |
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The Centre will display a permanent photographic exhibition depicting the history of the Sri Lanka conflict from British colonial times to present day. This will cover the country's lead up to war, the various stages of the conflict and the efforts made towards reconciliation, using the universal language of pictures. |
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| Peace Makers : |
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Currently the Centre has 300 photographs depicting the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi kindly donated to us by the Gandhi Museum in Delhi, India and through the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka. Some of these photos will be used as part of a Peace Makers' exhibition which will also include other internationally renowned Peace Makers such as Martin Luther King Jr, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and many more. This too will be permanently displayed in the Centre. |
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| Temporary Exhibitions : |
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We will also be working on temporary exhibitions with themes related to the conflict such as 'Women's Experiences in War', and to peace such as 'Non-violent Protests'. |
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| Oral Histories : |
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A collection of oral histories will be put together to recount the untold stories of the war, and the stories of resistance and peace building in Sri Lanka, bringing in voices of people who have by and large been unheard or stifled, such as children and women. |
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| Virtual Centre : (website) |
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As computers and electronic media are popular and effective modes of communication, this is an ideal form of conveying and making available information to communities, schools, Diaspora groups, and individuals. The Virtual Centre aims to educate, create awareness, and give a 360 degree vision of the history of the Sri Lanka conflict, the consequences we are facing today, and will face in the future. We hope it will help to ensure that the memory of war remains intact and people make educated and well-informed decisions through access to the information available online. |
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| Multimedia : |
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We are hoping to put a number of top range computers in the Centre with personalised sound systems through which users will be able to use to access the multi-media resources. These multi-media programmes will be created by specialised engineers using state-of-the-art software. The programmes will teach peace building, conflict resolution and early warning systems, and will especially target children and youth. |
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| Outreach : |
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Whilst waiting for the funds to purchase a special bus for the Sahajeevana Centre we will organise travelling exhibitions and workshops for the youth is the districts to kick start the outreach project for the Centre. In future we hope to purchase and kit out a Mobile Unit which will provide the Centre with a long-distance arm to reach out and involve people that are unlikely or unable to come to Colombo.
There will also be educational programmes held in the Centre itself reaching out to communities in the area covering the topics of conflict resolution and peace building. |
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