NYSC-World Vision to provide employment for tsunami-hit youth

The National Youth Services Council (NYSC) and World Vision Lanka (WVL) recently signed a Rs. 30 million pilot project to build four cement blocks manufacturing plants in the Ampara, Hambantota, Batticaloa and Galle districts.

These plants will provide the training and subsequently self-employment to youth in tsunami affected families. The cement blocks manufactured at the four plants will be used to construct houses for the tsunami-affected people, a WVL spokesman said.

NYSC Acting Chairman W.M. Ratnasiri in the presence of Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga signed the MoU with the World Vision Lanka National Director Yu Hwa Li at the Ministry.

Minister Kumaratunga commending the WVL efforts said that this pilot project would be a window of opportunity for the youth, especially those in the tsunami affected districts to rebuild the country's future and their own.

WVL National Director Li said that rehabilitation and reconstruction in the tsunami affected districts was one of the biggest challenges faced by the Government as well as the NGOs and the commencement of this project comes when the Government is looking out for opportunities to rebuild the nation and lives of tsunami-affected families.

This was the first time in 28 years that WVL joined hands with the NYSC to make this project a reality, the National Director said.

Furthermore, this project will also make use of the local skills in the national development process, the Director added. Amidst various allegations levelled against the NGOs operating in the country, this project will certainly be an eye-opener for Government as well as other parties on the rehabilitation carried out by NGOs, he remarked.

The WVL hopes to expand the project to other affected districts following the completion of the pilot project which spans for a year. Each plant has an output capacity of 650 blocks per day and will employ 12 youths.

The second phase of this project will focus on special skills training where youth will be trained in masonry, carpentry and other special skills.

The second phase is expected to kick-off three weeks after the pilot project.

A Joint Committee comprising ministry officials and WVL officials will co-ordinate the project with centre coordination committees in each district.

WVL Manager - Water Sanitation and Environment, Mukul Dixit and Relief Program Director, Asia Tsunami Response Team, Perry Mansfield were also present.