Shanthi Sena
Encyclopedia
Shanthi Sena or 'Sarvodaya Shanthi Sena Sandasaya' (Peace Brigade) is a country wide Sri Lanka
n youth force consisting of over 100,000 youth dedicated to peace building and community development.
The main objective is to develop youth leadership to help encourage a disciplined society free of violence and suffering.
Shanthi Sena is also engaged in changing the prevailing environment of war to that of peace through efforts to promote cooperation between ethnic and religious communities
.
Shanthi Sena Movement holds events and gatherings which promote national unity and inter religious cooperation. Amity Camps, Peace Dialogues, district-to-district youth exchange
programmes, Peace Education
, meditation, Youth Leader Programmes on conflict resolution
and Pen Pal
programmes are proven and effective means of achieving our objectives.
The long-established team at Shanthi Sena offers years of experience in the field of inter-religious dialogue coupled with a nationwide network of communities in the north, south, east and west. In addition to a full-time Director, there are six permanent members on the staff and 34 District Volunteer Coordinators, supported by the Shanthi Sena Board which is made up of distinguished Sri Lankan university lecturers, lawyers, accountants and counselors.
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Genesis and Mission
"Shanthi Sena" units were innaugrated in 1978 by the Sarvodaya Shramadana President Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne in response to communal disturbances throughout Sri Lanka
. An appeal was sent out to the Sarvodaya membership, and communities from all parts of the country to take effective measures to curb violence. There was a ready response. Thus Shanthi Sena, or the Peace Brigade, was born.
When conditions in the country returned to normal, Shanthi Sena Brigades remained. They re-focused their efforts to further the development process by encouraging a spirit of altruism
and self-discipline.
----
Shanthi Sena an Autonomous Independent Unit
Shanthi Sena is a useful program for youths, who are attracted to the broad objectives and service oriented
activities. It has attracted nearly 113,629 youths, forming over 9,835 units. Since Shanthi Sena is a People's Peace Organisation, members are trained to use non-violent
means in reconciling conflicts. Membership is open to everyone over the age of fifteen.
Vision
Shanthi Sena seeks to create an active youth leadership enriched with a social, economic, and political consciousness to work towards the eradication of violence in a non-violent way. Shanthi Sena also hopes to build a society of ethnic and religious harmony, healthy citizens, eco-friendly
consciousness, and especially non-violent humanitarian concerns through non-violent means.
----
Mission
----
Objectives
[www.shanthisena.org]
[www.sarvodaya.org]
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n youth force consisting of over 100,000 youth dedicated to peace building and community development.
The main objective is to develop youth leadership to help encourage a disciplined society free of violence and suffering.
Shanthi Sena is also engaged in changing the prevailing environment of war to that of peace through efforts to promote cooperation between ethnic and religious communities
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
.
Shanthi Sena Movement holds events and gatherings which promote national unity and inter religious cooperation. Amity Camps, Peace Dialogues, district-to-district youth exchange
Student exchange program
A student exchange program generally could be defined as a program where students from secondary school or university choose to study abroad in partner institutions...
programmes, Peace Education
Peace education
Peace education may be defined as the process of acquiring the values, the knowledge and developing the attitudes, skills, and behaviors to live in harmony with oneself, with others, and with the natural environment....
, meditation, Youth Leader Programmes on conflict resolution
Conflict resolution
Conflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of some social conflict. Often, committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest...
and Pen Pal
Pen pal
Pen pals are people who regularly write to each other, particularly via postal mail.-Purposes:A penpal relationship is often used to practice reading and writing in a foreign language, to improve literacy, to learn more about other countries and life-styles, and to make friendships...
programmes are proven and effective means of achieving our objectives.
The long-established team at Shanthi Sena offers years of experience in the field of inter-religious dialogue coupled with a nationwide network of communities in the north, south, east and west. In addition to a full-time Director, there are six permanent members on the staff and 34 District Volunteer Coordinators, supported by the Shanthi Sena Board which is made up of distinguished Sri Lankan university lecturers, lawyers, accountants and counselors.
----
Genesis and Mission
"Shanthi Sena" units were innaugrated in 1978 by the Sarvodaya Shramadana President Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne in response to communal disturbances throughout Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. An appeal was sent out to the Sarvodaya membership, and communities from all parts of the country to take effective measures to curb violence. There was a ready response. Thus Shanthi Sena, or the Peace Brigade, was born.
When conditions in the country returned to normal, Shanthi Sena Brigades remained. They re-focused their efforts to further the development process by encouraging a spirit of altruism
Altruism
Altruism is a concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures, and a core aspect of various religious traditions, though the concept of 'others' toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism is the opposite of...
and self-discipline.
----
Shanthi Sena an Autonomous Independent Unit
Shanthi Sena is a useful program for youths, who are attracted to the broad objectives and service oriented
Service-oriented
In human sexuality, Service-oriented is a term used in the BDSM community to refer relationship dynamic.In a service-oriented relationship, the focus is on how the submissive can contribute resources to the dominant partner, provide for some of their needs or advance their goals...
activities. It has attracted nearly 113,629 youths, forming over 9,835 units. Since Shanthi Sena is a People's Peace Organisation, members are trained to use non-violent
Nonviolence
Nonviolence has two meanings. It can refer, first, to a general philosophy of abstention from violence because of moral or religious principle It can refer to the behaviour of people using nonviolent action Nonviolence has two (closely related) meanings. (1) It can refer, first, to a general...
means in reconciling conflicts. Membership is open to everyone over the age of fifteen.
Vision
Shanthi Sena seeks to create an active youth leadership enriched with a social, economic, and political consciousness to work towards the eradication of violence in a non-violent way. Shanthi Sena also hopes to build a society of ethnic and religious harmony, healthy citizens, eco-friendly
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
consciousness, and especially non-violent humanitarian concerns through non-violent means.
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Mission
- To increase the knowledge and create awareness among the youth in order to empower the community
- To empower the youth to achieve social justiceSocial justiceSocial justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
through a new political philosophyPolitical philosophyPolitical philosophy is the study of such topics as liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why they are needed, what, if anything, makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it...
. - To help meet the physical needs of the youth to ensure their economic stability and ability to pursue spiritual and personal goals.
- To make a noticeable positive change in youth behavior that is acceptable to the society.
- To improve skills and interpersonal relationshipInterpersonal relationshipAn interpersonal relationship is an association between two or more people that may range from fleeting to enduring. This association may be based on limerence, love, solidarity, regular business interactions, or some other type of social commitment. Interpersonal relationships are formed in the...
s in order to strengthen social harmony. - To enable the youth to appreciate social difference to ensure religious and ethnic harmony. Additionally to create cross-cultural unity and alliance in a changing political environment.
- To improve the eco-friendly attitudes to protect the eco-systemEcosystemAn ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
- To enlist youth participationYouth participationYouth participation is the active engagement of young people throughout their communities. It is often used as a short-hand for youth participation in any many forms, including decision-making, sports, schools and any activity where young people are not historically engaged.-Coinage:Youth...
in the safeguarding of mental, physical and environmental health.
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Objectives
- To bring forth a generation of morally accomplished youth with intelligence and wisdom, good personality, and leadership qualities.
- To work towards a Sri Lankan society endowed with peace, justice and cooperation.
- To promote volunteerism and a personal investment in rural development.
- To bring about a generation of youth with a political consciousness that can create a new political culturePolitical culturePolitical culture is the traditional orientation of the citizens of a nation toward politics, affecting their perceptions of political legitimacy.Conceptions...
with a critical outlook. - To bring forth a generation of youth with skills to propagate a strong viable national economy.
- To launch an educational and service orientated rural health development programme.
- To get the youth interested, motivated, and devoted to safeguarding the ecology and environment.
- To build a trained and active youth group that can respond spontaneously in times of disasters
- To empower the national art culture through creating youth endowed with a sense of high art appreciation.
[www.shanthisena.org]
[www.sarvodaya.org]