Mr Wellalage Duminda Udaya Sampath has been working as a Sewalanka field officer in Ahangama for the past 13 months. A local to the area, Mr Sampath lost his home when the Tsunami waves struck the coastline, leaving him living in a Sewalanka temporary shelter site with his family.
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Mr Sampath meets with a women's coir producing group |
Having worked to support community groups during previous disasters, Mr Sampath quickly volunteered to assist Sewalanka field staff to perform their duties in the shelter site in which he lived.
Proving himself efficient in his tasks, he was invited by Sewalanka to join the organisation as a field officer. In doing so he undertook training in the development of business plans, as well as comprehensive psychosocial training. He is now working with community-based organisations to assist in the redevelopment of livelihood activities.
His daily duties include regular visits to the communities within which he is working and attending CBO meetings. He is also responsible for identifying and developing small groups of people who are working in similar sectors so that activities are coordinated and opportunities for income generation strengthened.
Once these groups are established, Mr Sampath is able to develop field training programs that include vocational skills training, business and microfinance training.
One local group that Mr Sampath regularly visits is a women’s coir producing group in Ahangama. The 33 members of this group have been meeting weekly in three small groups at the local temple for over six months. During their meetings they share experiences and discuss business ideas and prospective markets. Each of the women has just completed a workplan based on training provided by Mr Sampath and he will now work with project coordinators to determine funding based on these plans.
Mr Sampath also works with the Sewalanka Enterprise Development Company (SEDCO), to establish reliable markets for the women’s coir production.
When asked, the women said that they had previously found it difficult to find a market for their produce, however by establishing the CBO and working with Sewalanka, they now have a secure market and income.
Mr Sampath is enthusiastic about his role with Sewalanka.
“My favourite part of the work I do is discussing issues with the Tsunami-affected families in the transitional shelter sites,” he said.
“I decided that I wanted to assist with the work Sewalanka is doing because Sewalanka staff are working with the poorest of the poor throughout the country.“
"I believe that if we work hard helping the organisation reach its goals through its vision and mission, then there is no limit to where we can go,” he said.
