Tsunami battered women's needs addressed through Buddhist insights

UNIFEM the United Nation's arm for the women development recently entered into a partnership with Damrivi Foundation in Organisation for social economic and spiritual development through Buddhist insights in order to address the specific women's needs battered by tsunami.

UNIFEM's South Asia Regional Office, in its endeavour to promote skills development for women tsunami victims with a view to economic rehabilitation entered into partnership with the Damrivi Foundation to implement a professional Counselling Certificate Course with Buddhist Insights.

Accordingly the foundation will train 20 tsunami victim women or those engaged as social workers in the tsunami affected areas to counsel women in a culturally and gender sensitive manner.

The course comprising 200 hours delivered on Saturdays and Sundays over a period of six months includes general counselling skills, specific women counselling skills, trauma counselling, Buddhist counselling therapies and field placements.

The course which has been made available free of charge accommodates 22 trainees from tsunami affected areas such as Hambantota, Tangalle, Matara, Balapitiya, Galle Ambalangoda, Panadura.

This includes a wide spectrum of trainees such as teachers, social workers, counsellors attached to schools, nurses, students of speech therapy, officials attached to the Social Services Department and Government Administration, womens' development organisations such as Women in Need (WIN), Centre for Development of Women etc.

The trainees were chosen subject to an interview and as to the selection criteria, apart from the fundamental qualities necessary for a counsellor, the potential to serve the women affected by tsunami was priority.

The course is conducted by a panel of experts including Damrivi Chairman Prof. Asanga Tilakaratne Ph.D Director Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya, Ven. Wariyapola Sumanajothi MA, Damrivi Trustee, Dr. Pushpakumara Kadapolaarachchi MBBS, Senior Registrar in Psychiatry, National Hospital, Colombo Dr. Manjula Vidanapathirana Ph.D, Senior Lecture in Educational Psychology, University of Colombo, Dr. Buddhika Mallikahewa MBBS, Registrar in Psychiatry, Mental Hospital Angoda, Dr. Palitha Bandara MBBS, Provincial Public Health Medical Officer, North Central Province and a few guest lecturers such as Prof. Swarna Wijetunge Ph.D from the University of Colombo, Dr. V.H.S. Harischandra, Dr. Padmal De Silva Ph.D. The Advisory Board for the Course include Prof. Asanga Tilakaratne Ph.D. Dr. Padmal De Silva Ph.D from Kings College, University of London, Dr. Varuni Ganepola Ph.D. from the University of Colombo.

Damrivi Foundation which has counselling and professional training in counselling with Buddhist insights as one of their key areas of activity has already implemented a Child Counselling Course for the benefit of children affected by tsunami which has been made available free of charge to those dealing with children in tsunami areas.

Further the Damrivi Foundation delivers a 12 month diploma Course in Buddhist Psychology and Psychological Counselling and a 9 month Certificate Course on counselling with Buddhist insights.

Ever since tsunami Damrivi in partnership with Dialog GSM has implemented a specially designed psychological support programme which includes a medical camp, counselling, psychiatry, art therapy, cultural and religious rites and rituals.

Apart from counselling Damrivi engages in a number of projects for social economic and spiritual development. Their web site can be accessed on www.damrivi.net. for more details.