📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
This project is actively working for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)and SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), organized together with Green Volunteers for Green Future (GV4GF) since 2012 (since 2017 in this place!). Project is a based on paddy farming area. Higurakgoda is a part of the Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka's 2nd kingdom, exist 1100 years ago. Higurakgoda is a settlement, established in 1956, under the government development plan. Families brought to here from different parts of Sri Lanka and asked them to settle here while doing paddy farming. Different parts of Sri Lanka have different kind of sub cultures. In here all of them are mixed and emerge a new sub culture. Now 3rd generation is living here with their 2nd generation parents. During the 21st century, technology is changed rapidly but it is not reached to these areas because of language barrier, unawareness, narrow perspectives and so on. As a country, everyone should be a part of countryííí–s development process but unfortunately these rural communities are somehow rejected by the administration. But actually, communitiesííí– active participation is essential to overcome the burdens and to establish a just society. Some families are doing other activities to live. Making bags, packeting spices, maintain plant nurseries are among them. We are working closely with paddy farmers as well as other families who have no lands to do agriculture too.
💼 What the programme involves
Basically our projects consists with two parts. First three days we are working at the two or three places that is our main work, helping to members of the self-help group members. We are going to help to families who have gardens and planting vegetable. Second four days, we are moving around the village to meet community to do our next part of the projects. During these four days volunteers can meet a family, youth/children society members and watch their activities, womenííí–s/farmers groups, visit village preschool etc. Among work scheduled volunteers are going to participate, 1. Help family to do their home gardening work 2. Cultural exchange programs with villagers including youths. 3. Activities with children / kindergarten kids 4. Work and assist to self-help group memberííí–s activities
🏠 Accommodation on site
Village house with a host family, located close to nice paddy fields. There are electricity, filtered clean water to drink available as well. Mobile phones/internet are working. But no Wi-Fi. You have to wash your cloths by hand and have to hang outside for drying.
📍 About the location
Higurakgoda. 256km from Colombo, suburb of Polonnaruwa, the second ancient kingdom in Sri Lanka and declared as a world heritage site. Many people depend on paddy farming and it is low population density area for Sri Lanka (122 people/ km2). Organizing cultural exchange events, Excursion, Environmental Education, Expeditions, Farewell party, etc.
⚠️ Requirements
High motivation to work while experiencing different type of life style, accept challenges, adopt to local environment, respect and accept local life and culture.
ℹ️ Additional information
Local SDGs (2030 goals) of the family, Higu and Sri Lanka