I have been served as a program manager at 'Save a Life' for the project of 'Fostering inclusive governance and enhancing social cohesion by empowering and strengthening the voice of Health laborers in local authorities of Jaffna, Sri Lanka'. I have developed this grant application and won Rs.17.5 Million from The Asia Foundation to conduct the project activities in 18 months.
The project aimed to contribute to the creation of vibrant democratic spaces by ensuring the social cohesion of local authority health working groups, protecting democratic governance and the civil rights of marginalized and vulnerable groups. In the current situation in Jaffna, the basic rights and needs of health workers are being violated. Women involved in waste management experience physical violence. Women and children face the most severe discrimination in society, which is why children are prone to drop out of school and participate in illegal violent activities. Therefore, as a team, we believe that giving them a voice in the current context is vital to ensure their fundamental rights and build social cohesion within communities.
I have been involved in all project activities of this project.
1. Focus group discussions were conducted with health workers from 17 local authorities in Jaffna. We have identified the issues and challenges they face. In addition, we conducted a baseline survey of residents to determine their socioeconomic status, community and social environment, health status, and lifestyle.
2. Formed Health Labor Union (HLU) with the representatives from 17 local authorities. We have hosted capacity building, Health & Safety, Social mobility and Community health workshops to the HLU members. This union has been registered under District Secretariat level and protocols were developed for the function of HLU without any external interference.
3. Empowered women in this community through forming Self Help Group (SHG) and introducing small entrepreneurship among them. Hands on trainings were given to them with the support of university of Jaffna and other experts.
4. Drafted by-law document with the support of HLU for the sustainability of their social recognition and rights of sanitary workers
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