A meeting with community facilitators

Civil society run social service organizations render an often silent service yet with tremendous impact; empowering and changing lives of marginalised children and families. Today we highlight SERVE- a Sri Lankan non-profit social work based organization.
“Sri Lanka is a ‘welfare state’ where many essential services are provided free. Additionally, many religious and non-religious organizations are also engaged in social work. Still there are many pockets of underserved people and communities in urban and rural Sri Lanka. There is much space, opportunity and a role to play for an independent, local non-profit organization with a professional social work background” explained Sanjeeva de Mel, Founder and Executive Director of SERVE. 

De Mel attributes his passion to serve the downtrodden, to his Christian upbringing which was augmented in the ethos of the schools he attended: S. Thomas’ Preparatory School Kollupitiya and S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia. He was thus motivated to join the service sector and commenced work as a Project Officer in an NGO; engaged in economic empowerment. Having realised that helping and empowering people requires professional intervention through a systematic and scientific process, he read for a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts at the University of Kelaniya, a Diploma in Social Work at the School of Social Work and a Masters’ Degree in Social Work at the National Institute of Social Development.

“In 1999 together with a group of dedicated professionals including social workers, I founded SERVE, a Sri Lankan non-profit social work based organization to empower children and families. SERVE stands for Socio-economical, Ecological, Religious, Virtuous Empowerment. My vision was to start something of our own to empower children and the needy, using a locally accepted mechanism together with knowledge from other parts of the world. The objective to start SERVE was to fill the gaps that are not addressed and catered through other social service providers. The Vision of SERVE is to contribute to a society that supports and ensures equality, dignity and humaneness of people, especially children, youth and women. The Mission is to facilitate empowerment of people, especially children, youth and women, through a quality, participatory, creative, sustainable and scientific process.” said De Mel. 

SERVE focuses on all UN Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs) for 2030 with a special focus to SDG Goals 1,2,3,4,5,8,10,13,16 and 17, empowering children, youth and women living in vulnerable poverty stricken communities belonging to all ethnic and religious communities as well as implementing a programme for the women in the Sri Lankan prison system.
De Mel detailed the objective and scope of each SERVE Project-
“SHAKTHEEN” Economic Empowerment of Women Project caters to socially and economically strengthening women with the skills and support needed to grow their businesses and earn an income. 

 “SAKSHARA” Preschools & Children’s Centres work towards promoting a child friendly preschool, community and home environment to in order to minimise abuse and violence against children. The activities include Preschool Education, Children Clubs and Indoor / Outdoor Games via SERVE community Centres. 
 “SHILPA” Social Work Students Placement Project is for local and foreign Social Work / University students following diplomas, Bachelors and Masters Degrees. The activities include on the job practical training and field observation visits as well as providing guidance and mentoring. 

“SUPEKSHA Project”- Caters to ensuring the rights of children of remanded/convicted mothers living in Welikada and Kalutara Prisons. Both children under the age of five and pregnant mothers receive support from SERVE in the area of nutrition and supplements. SERVE conducted a study with an External Independent Consultant to identify and address the gaps in the system recently and this report is to be shared with the Prisons Department in the near future.

“SAMAGA” is an accompaniment programme for families of missing persons which helps to improve the psychosocial well-being of the wives and parents of missing persons. The activities include obtaining information and emotional support as well as support-group discussions, referrals and family mediation.
“SAHAJEEVANA” - Caters to promote inclusive development, tolerance and respect for diversity. The activities include building up a core group of trainers /volunteers as change agents, training youth leaders to carry the messages of peace and to avoid violent extremism and raising awareness among peer youth regarding the importance of establishing peace, preventing violent extremism and combating hate speech.

When asked if SERVE has observed any particular increase or decrease of crimes against women and children in the last two years de Mel said “Due to Covid-19 regulations and lockdowns we have observed an increase of crimes against women and children; especially in the congested coastal belt as well as shanty areas. The limitation of space, the limited financial resources, stress and lack of opportunity for outdoor activities and mental well-being aggravated this problem. Verbal abuse is rampant in our project areas and it leads to mental abuse. Sexual abuse is an unspoken problem among women and girls. These children are being deprived of their rights and this is abuse,” said De Mel. 
When asked what measures SERVE has taken in the project areas to mitigate violence and abuse against children, De Mel spoke of the “SUGUNA” Girl Empowerment Project which focuses on the enhancement of life skills of teenage girls through activity based one day events for girls. 

He went on to elaborate on the GOAL Programme which was created by the ‘Women Win’ organization with the aim of strengthening of adolescent girls through sports, between 13 – 18 years of age from both urban and rural settings. SERVE successfully implemented GOAL for girls, using netball and karate. Due to the onset and influence of COVID-19 pandemic, Women Win has modified the programme as an activity book titled ‘GOAL@Home’. This book is now available in Sinhala and Tamil languages. The online version in Sinhala, Tamil and English is on the www.lamun.org website. 
How can people with needs connect with SERVE?

They can call our helpline 0714909999 or email [email protected] or write to or visit  our Head Office situated at 24 , Uswatta Circular Road, Moratuwa 10400
We invite all Activists, Civil Society Organizations, Lawyers and concerned citizens to come forward and join us to set up a network to stand against the Violence of Women and Children in your own District.
Together we Can ! Sri Lanka Can!
www.avankalankafoundation.org   Tel; 94772497739   Email avankalanka.org