CARE and ETP launch the "Cup of Tea Programme" in Sri Lanka. - 19|09|2008

CARE to support estate workers in poverty reduction

Fri, 2008-09-19 01:12

By Quintus Perera - Asian Tribune

Colombo, 19 September, (Asiantribune.com): CARE International was established in Sri Lanka in 1956 first focusing on providing food, and working on issues related to maternal and child health, Gradually in respect to the changing needs of the country, in the early nineties they began to increasingly shift its focus to not only addressing basic needs but to also try and address the root causes of poverty ad marginalization.

CARE Sri Lanka now looks at wider spectrum of root causes of poverty, vulnerability, marginalization and exclusion as part of its efforts to ensure that its programming is relevant, effective and sustainable in order to do thsi CARE works at different levels while also seeking to strengthen community and individual capacities.

Ms J Sathyawany, a tiny-made Tamil - a Norwood Estate Female volunteer was there at JAIC Hilton Hotel to describe what good, she and her community in the estate sector has obtained through CARE International Sri Lanka with several other organizations.

Though her speech was part of the program in the Plantation Community Empowerment Project that would be implemented by CARE International – Sri Lanka, her narration carried a deeper sense of oppression and segregation of their minority community, due to the present security arrangements.

She said that after her education she found a job in Colombo. But, due to the present security maintenance in the City she found it incorrigible to stay in Colombo. Therefore she was forced to leave Colombo and again settle down in the estate sector. This is indicative of no grass roots level concrete peace moves between the two communities.

Nick Osborne, Country Director, Care International Sri Lanka, at the inauguration of the Project said that it was very important for them and their partners of this project where the stakeholders are management of plantation human development fund, management of regional plantation companies, management of tea estates, members of the estate community, European Union and donors, Ethical Tea Partnership.

He said that CARE has been in Sri Lanka for the last 58 years and they have made significant improvements of their work here. They have been working with the Ministries of Education, Health etc.

He said that they have established 1956 and focused on providing food and working on issues related to maternal and child health and then with the changing needs of the country in early 1990s CARE began increasingly shift its focus to the basic needs and also of the root causes of poverty and marginalization.

He said that CARE in Sri Lanka now looks at wider spectrum of root causes of poverty vulnerability, marginalization and exclusion as part of its efforts to ensure that its programming is relevant, effective and sustainable.

Dr Susil Liyanarachchi, Director of Programmes, CARE Sri Lanka elaborating the Project “Plantation Community Empowerment” (PCEP) said that building on its experiences they will implement the PCEP with the aim of further contributing to the wellbeing of the estate community and improving the tea industry.

The associate partners of the project includes the Bogwantalawa Tea Estate Ltd and the Regional Plantations Companies of Watawala and Kotagala Ltd. He said the project will be implemented over a period of three years in 13 estates managed by the above companies. The primary beneficiaries of the project will be an estimated 26,400 estate workers and community members.

He said that the Project would make three major interventions such as formation and strengthening community development forums as the key structure for planning and implementation of social development; assistance to Regional Plantation Companies to work towards ethical tea trade certification using the results of CDF and other interventions and setting up of Trust Funds at estates managed by CDFs for social welfare and well being according to agreed plans.

The project is implemented in partnership with Plantation Human Development Trust and funded by the European Union, Ethical Tea Partnership and TEAVANA.

- Asian Tribune -

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