The Japanese volunteers who have come to the island to share their expertise, were introduced to their host organizations at an assigning ceremony, held at the Department of External Resources (ERD), on February 15. The occasion was graced by ERD, JICA and officials representing the volunteers’ host organizations and other institutions. The five young volunteers introduced themselves and expressed determination to carry out the two year assignment in the Sinhala language.
The volunteers have come to Sri Lanka aimed at providing their expertise to improve and add value to activities carried out by various public institutions in the country, as part of JICA’s on-going Volunteer Dispatch Program.
The five volunteers will start working in each Sri Lankan host organization as follows:
- Two volunteers will work in environmental education in support of waste management related awareness activities at household, school and institutional levels for the Colombo and Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Councils.
- One volunteer will support non-communicable disease prevention at the Dehiovita MOH Office.
- Two will work to support the Education Ministry’s Sports and Physical Education Program in Deniyaya and Bandarawela.
Since the inception of JICA’s Volunteer Dispatch Program in Sri Lanka in 1981, a total of 1,131 volunteers have worked in the country, and their contribution towards development activities at grassroots level is greatly valued by the organizations that have received their services. At present, there are 81 volunteers working in various parts of the country.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)is the executing agency of Japan’s Bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA). JICA, the world’s biggest bilateral aid agency, works in over 150 countries and regions. In accordance with its vision of “Inclusive and Dynamic Development,” JICA supports the resolution of development issues in developing countries. In Sri Lanka, Japan has been providing financial and technical assistance since 1954 and is one of the largest donors to the country. On behalf of the people of Japan, JICA contributes to improve the lives of the people in Sri Lanka.