Sri Lanka 2013 ABF supported YMCA through Y Care International to help young people in the Tamil North rebuild their lives and livelihoods after the devastation of 25 years of war

Ravaged by civil war for secession over 25 years, the fighting was particularly bitter in the Northern Tamil part of Sri Lanka. Many young people had never known peace and were left with severe psychological and physical damage.

500 young people were helped with adjusting to the psychological trauma of the civil war.  Vocational and business training was provided to 250 young men and women.

Many aid organisations and NGOs had difficulty in gaining access and operating in the area.  Although the Sri Lankan government was reluctant to allow NGO's into the North after the civil war for fear of revealing the atrocities that took place, the YMCA  was already present in six locations throughout the war and had an established network ready to give help as soon as the war finished. With six active YMCAs in the region, the YMCA was well respected by national and local government providing the unique way for ABF, though Y Care International, to help at the earliest opportunity.

"What impressed us most was the YMCA/Y Care 'pastoral' approach - not simply providing money and training but also following up with recipients to ensure their financial and psychological wellbeing.” (Clive Bailey)

Point Pedro YMCA, one of three training centres

Vocational training sewing classes which help widowed mothers of young children start a livelihood

Suthan, an ex combatant, whose war injuries preventing him from doing physical work.  Y Care sent him on a hairdressing course and helped him start his own barber's shop

Two young war veterans enable to start their own firewood selling business

Gnash and Sivachselvan replaced irrigation pipes on their farm damaged in the war

Kannan, a fisherman lost his leg in the war; Y Care helped him start a fish net mending business

Kirubar started a successful bicycle repair business with the ambition of moving into servicing tuk-tuks in the near future

Ester, a war widow, started a small tailoring business enabling her and her daughter to regain a livelihood