Cultural Diversity displayed by Gemidiriya youth at National Youth Day
The performance of one hundred Gemidiriya youth demonstrating the principles of Gemidiriya development process and how it operates to change the lives of rural people, practising principals of good governance.
Gemidiriya showcased the talents of youth in fine arts at a national level concert on May 23, the National Youth Day. The concert was organized by Gemidiriya together with the National Youth Service Council. The concert attracted an audience of over 1,500 and countrywide telecasted by the national television on the following day.
Gemidiriya organized this event to fulfil several objectives. First it is a capacity building exercise that aims to enhance and bring forward the talents of rural youth in the Gemidiriya villages. Second, it aimed to attract more youth to the Gemidiriya village organizations and its development process.
The Gemidiriya skills development program targets youth and provide financial assistances for skills development. Gemidiriya communities allocate 30% of the responsible positions in village organizations for youth. The youth circles in village organizations enable them to gather and discuss, mobilize and organize. This kind of cultural events will make youth circles more attractive, providing opportunities to youth to plan and access skill development fund for income generation.
Gemidiriya operates in Dambana, the home for the Sri Lankan indigenous people. Young Gemidiriya youth from Dambana performed “ Kirikoraha” a traditional folk dance of rites and rituals.
The cultural show provided wide opportunities to youth. First Gemidiriya video recorded all aesthetic events presented by Gemidiriya youth circles in seven Districts. The well-known professional dancer Kulasiri Budawatta studied the video records and selected events of 100 talented youth who displayed exceptional talents. The selected youth received extra training in Colombo by the Budawatta Dancing Academy to perform at the national cultural event.
At the show Gemidiriya youth presented 14 items, Sinhala & Tamil, consisting of upcountry and low country traditional dancing events, dramas, folk songs and folk dances of indigenous people in jungle village of Dambana. Wherever Gemidiriya is in operation, North or South, it allows respect to cultural diversity and community aspirations and allows them to be displayed country wide.
There are thousands of Sri Lankan folk songs that are different from region to region. Recognizing the value of preserving them Gemidiriya youth sang a chain of folk songs. Chintanee although she had lost her eyesight, brought tears to many others eyes in her singing on motherhood. a sharp penetrating voice.
Some of the youth who demonstrated exceptional talents got opportunities to improve their talents and go ahead. Chintanee from Talawa, south gemidiriya company got an opportunity to join the National TV musical programs. She has exceptional talents in singing and music as well as a sound education in music. All the participants received certificates and Gemidiriya will assist them to improve their skills and organize professional drama and musical teams in the Gemidiriya youth circles. Gemidiriya expects to hold the event annually on the youth day.
