Launch of SafeCircles.lk – a free, trilingual platform to educate and empower children

Topics addressed include bodies and boundaries, gender equality, reproductive health, child rights, and disability, with new topics added regularly

The Safe Circles website (www.safecircles.lk) was officially launched at an event on July 8, 2023. Safe Circles was created to make education on topics that matter accessible to all Sri Lankans in Sinhala, Tamil and English. The Safe Circles website – www.safecircles.lk – provides free workshop materials that concerned citizens anywhere in the country can use to empower the children in their communities. Topics addressed include bodies and boundaries, gender equality, reproductive health, child rights, and disability, with new topics added regularly. Resources include downloadable presentation materials, activity sheets and classroom posters.

 The keynote speaker at the launch was Milani Salpitikorala of the Child Protection Force. The launch also featured a panel discussion on the topic ‘Education Equals Empowerment’ with individuals who actively strive to change the lives of children, namely survivor and activist Kumudini David, Doctor and children’s author Dr Nuwan Thotawatta, and child rights activist Sahan Wiratunga. Dr Mihitha Basnayake, a co-founder of Safe Circles, moderated the discussion. The Gold Sponsor of the event was Lalan Group, while the Silver Sponsor was Crysbro, and the Venue Partner was HomeTree Coworking.

 Safe Circles is the brainchild of Nabila Imtiaz (Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations, Bachelor of Sociolegal Studies), Dr Mihitha Basnayake (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery – MBBS) and Ayesha Ratnayake (Master of Business Administration, Chartered Marketer, Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy). In researching problems like child abuse, gender-based violence, menstrual health issues, unplanned pregnancies, disability and discrimination in Sri Lanka, they came to believe that education was the only meaningful route to change.

 Drawing from the insights they gleaned from interviews with grassroots activists and NGOs, as well as the recommendations of global authorities on child education, the efforts of similar countries, and the responses to workshops conducted in the field, they created a series of educational workshops that are now available for free, in all three languages. Their belief is that education can transform Sri Lanka and that by delivering a Safe Circles presentation, anyone can change a life. Visit www.safecircles.lk to be a part of the change.

Milani Salpitikorala