Sharing Gemidiriya Experience with Project teams from Bangladesh and Tamilnadu, India
“We saw how the Gemidiriya methodology is implemented at ground level. The community members actively take part with a sense of purpose. Each of them appears highly motivated towards a common cause and objective. They know what to do. They complement one another’s role and function. They organize themselves first and then focus on more comprehensive development activity incorporating capacity building for sustainability, infrastructure for facilitation and livelihood development for income generation. More specifically, we were highly impressed with the fervour with which the young people participate and interact.”
Welcome to village,Singhaudagama
These were the views expressed by a representative participant of the recent ten day observation tour of Gemidiriya by a team from Bangladesh and Tamilnadu.
Immersion in the concept
The twenty member team comprised representatives of the Vasanthu Kanpuram Project of Tamilnadu and the Social Development Foundation of Bangladesh. Their itinerary covered fourteen Gemidiriya villages providing a fairly comprehensive idea of the Project concept and practice. All the team members were clear and unambiguous on their positive views regarding the effectiveness of the methodology. “There are quite a number of lessons to be learnt,” they said, “particularly on ways of effectively addressing the traditional obstacles to rural development through judiciously formulated community empowerment modes. The methodology practised here can be adapted to suit our own conditions.” They were glad indeed for being able to witness this success.
Two teams with Speaker of Sri Lanka Parliament
The two groups had a very cordial interaction with the Speaker of the Sri Lanka Parliament. The speaker was told by the coordinators of the two teams that Gemidiriya community driven development model is something valuable that Sri Lanka offers to South Asia.
The Minister of Rural Livelihood Development, who too graced the occasion, wished success to both teams of the two countries and invited all to join the massive effort for rural poverty alleviation and livelihood development.
