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| Sunday, 10 August 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Co-op farms - a new approach to peace The year: 2000. The place: Illukpitiya, an impoverished remote village in Polonnaruwa. The mission: to conduct a health camp for 650 refugee families. by Carol Aloysius
A small band of service-minded business women is busy distributing medicines, dry rations and clothes when they make an unexpected discovery. Most of the refugees who included a large number of widows and young girls hated the fact that they had to depend on charity to be fed and clothed. They were no longer content to live in their makeshift shelters. They wanted out. "They told us that they wanted something more sustainable than just a temporary roof over their heads and food", says Ms Janaki Gunawardene founder and past President of Business and Professional Women of Sri Lanka (BPWSL), an affiliation of BPW International which was organising the health camp." We realised then that they were self-respecting persons who had been used to living in decent homes, until they were forced to flee leaving all their possessions when they were attacked by the rebels during the ethnic war. What they needed and wanted was to have a home of their own and a decent livelihood". The army authorities overlooking the refugee camps thought so too and urged the BPW members "to do something that would give these displaced persons back their self respect and dignity", she recalls. novel idea
After a series of discussions the members of the BPW came up with a novel idea as to how they could make their wishes a reality." We decided to do something no one had tried out before either here or elsewhere in the world. Not only would we give them a home of their own, we would create whole villages for them with the idea of promoting peaceful co-existence and tolerance," Janaki told this writer in a recent interview. The village they chose to launch this unique concept was Illukpitiya, as well as its surrounding villages. Once a flourishing farming district during the time of our ancient kings, the residents of these villages they found had virtually no amenities due to neglect and the on going war. "They would be symbols of Peace especially as the residents were from different ethnic backgrounds. Once completed we hoped that they would be able to live together in a spirit of tolerance and understanding of each other. Hence the name "Global peace villages", says Janaki who is the chairperson of the Global Peace Village Project. "Why global? I asked. "Because we expect this model to be emulated by other countries with similar situations once the message is carried through the network of BPW International". So how did the BPW expect to achieve this goal? Janaki explains: "We will run them on a co-operative basis. We would also get the recipients to build the necessary infrastructure, instead of enlisting the help of outsiders, thereby giving them an active role in creating these peace villages".
In the three years since they came up with their ambitious plan the members of the BPW has lost no time in turning their vision into a reality. Enlisting the help of BPW International as well as friends both here and abroad, they have already set up five out of the 150 houses that have been planned under the global Peace Villages project. Janaki, a former full time business woman is convinced that the villages will be a unique example of peaceful co-existence and more importantly give the women, many of who are widows who comprise a large segment of the population, a key role to play in developing agro industries and promoting the peace message. fascinating feature "The most fascinating feature of these villages will be the way they will operate", she says. The assets of these villages will not be owned by a single person or family. Hence the income generated from a mixed agro livestock farm and small and medium enterprises will be shared by the whole village. Those with specialised building skills such as masonry and carpentry will be in charge of building the 150 houses and renovating the water tanks. Others will help to set up an irrigation system that will feed all the fields, cultivate the land and develop farming and trade. The land will be divided equally and partitioned for dairy, agriculture and farming. Everyone will contribute their talents and skills in this venture and the profits will be shared on a co-operative basis." This way the whole village will become an independent and sustainable entity", says the Project Chairperson. The entire project will be supervised personally by members of the BPW she adds, "It will be our contribution to the current peace process", she reflects. Global peace villages has the blessings of the highest in the land. unique venture A message from the President on the occasion of the launch of the first Global Peace Village at Illukpitiya, reads: "This model I believe, will help nations at strife to secure peace in their countries. The Prime Minister's message describes this unique venture as, " a model for interaction and sharing of best practices between such global villages". The BPW however needs funds to achieve its goal. Each house will have one room and a verandah with land to build a toilet and other rooms if the owners wish. The cost will be around Rs. 50,000 which is the cost of a dana, or putting up a memorial stone for a dead person. Instead, they can build a home for these unfortunate persons. We are willing to name them after their loved ones", Janaki suggests. Once the houses are built, a community centre, school , pre-school and temple and a community well to provide water for at least ten families, will also be provided. To create awareness of the project and carry the peace message to the public, the BPW will hold a conference on World Peace on October 10-12, where discussions will focus on peace/violence related issues. BPW also hopes to hold a trade fair and bridal pageant of different brides around the world during the conference. |
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