புலிகளின் குரல் வானொலி

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4th International Tamil Journalism Conference ( ITJC -2019 )

மக்களுக்கான இதழியலை நோக்கி….

Towards People’s Journalism

நான்காவது சர்வதேச தமிழ் இதழியல் மகாநாடு

4^th International Tamil Journalism Conference ( ITJC -2019 )

Jaffna, SRILANKA

Announcing - the fourth International Tamil Journalism Conference, to be hosted for the first time in Sri Lanka.

The International Tamil journalism Conference was first launched by a collaborative effort between Tamil academics in Sri Lanka and India. The first conference was hosted by Madras University in Chennai in 2011. It was hosted again in 2012, and thereafter in 2014, all three times in Chennai, although Jaffna University was an active partner.
Due to various reasons it could not be hosted in Sri Lanka as planned in subsequent years. Now however a Journalism for People Movement has been formed with members across various countries where Tamil speaking people reside; India, Sri  Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia - and the list is expanding. The movement is primarily made up of academics, students, past students and practitioners in the field of journalism. The primary focus of this collective is to improve journalism in the field as well as improve research on journalism in academia. 

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குச்சியைக் குச்சியால் சந்திக்க வேண்டும்...

தமிழ் தலைவன் மு .கருணாநிதி -05

திராவிட முன்னேற்றக்கழம் திராவிடஸ்தான் பிரிவினை கோரிக்கையுடன் இந்தித் திணிப்பு எதிர்ப்புபையும் தமது போராட்டங்காளாக முன்னிலைப்படுத்திய திராவிட முன்னேற்றக்கழகம் பின்னர் பிரிவனைக் கோரிக்கையை கைவிட்டது. 1963ஆம் ஆண்டு இந்திய சீனப் போர் நடைபெற்ற போது அரசியலமைப்பின் 16வது திருத்தம் கொண்டு வரப்பட்டது. ஆதன்படி பிரிவினை தடுப்புச்சட்டம் கொண்டுவரப்பட்டது. இந்தப் பின்னணியில் தி.மு.க தனது திராவிடஸ்தான் பிரிவினை கோரிக்கையை கைவிட்டது.

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How To Improve Cross-Cultural Communications

How To Improve Cross-Cultural Communications  

     When you live and work in another culture and actively strive to develop cross-cultural understanding and allow yourself to adjust to the culture, you make fundamental changes in the way you think, feel and behave.  We can refer to this as informal on-the-job training and it can be very effective.  For many people an informal approach may be all that is needed for them to quickly adjust to another culture.  Success with an informal approach to cross-cultural self-training depends on the personality, knowledge and experiences of the individual.    Formal training programs in cross-cultural communications also bring about the changes in people that are necessary for them to interact cross-culturally.   Perhaps one of the most effective ways to bring about cross-cultural understanding and intercultural interaction skills is to combine both language and cultural training in an intensive program of instruction.  The study of language is a considerable aid to cross-cultural understanding because embedded in a people�s language is their cultural logic and their rules of social interaction.  Most languages have built-in ways to talk to people of different social statuses. The Japanese language is a prime example and Pacific island languages also contain linguistic conventions such as the respect speech and oratory found in Pohnpei, Fiji and Samoa.

The Peace Corps Approach To Cross-Cultural Training

     A combination of intensive language training and cultural immersion living is the approach taken by the U.S. Peace Corps in its training programs for Peace Corps Volunteers throughout the world.  In-country Peace Corps training programs typically last about 8 weeks and consist of intensive language and culture training as well as orientation and training in the field that the volunteer will be working in.   The language and culture trainers are often well-educated locals, many times educators, who have a good understanding of American culture and its influence on the behavior of Americans.  They also very often have an objective anthropological understanding of their own culture and its influence on themselves and their own people.  Peace Corps training programs are intensive; there is normally about three hours of language training in the morning with cultural and job-related sessions in the afternoon.  Peace Corps trainers use a lot of role-playing activities where volunteers must use both language and culturally-correct social interaction skills.  In addition to this formal training, volunteer trainees also explore the local culture informally in their off-hours and on weekends and try out some of their language and social interaction skills.  Some training programs also combine village and home-stays with locals as part of the training process.  During my own Peace Corps training in Fiji we spent one week in a rural Fijian village, each volunteer staying with a separate family.  The families were instructed not to speak any English to us and we were encouraged to try to speak as little English as possible to each other.   This was immersion training at its best.  At the end of a day we found ourselves starved to speak English, but forced to communicate in the local language.  It was a very effective cross-cultural and linguistic training regime and everyone in my group went on to become successful volunteers, except for one.

     Most Peace Corps Volunteers have the correct attitude for successful cross-cultural communication that allows changes to take place in them.  However, there are always a few who do not possess the right attitude and who sometimes terminate even before the training is over.  A few others may not make it through the first year and will also go home.  And then there is sometimes even a few who must be �psycho-vacced� (psychological evacuation) because of acute culture shock.   In my training group in Fiji there was only one volunteer that had to be psycho-vacced during the 8^th month our two-year stay.  She had classic culture-shock symptoms. While at work as a nurse in the hospital she was fine because she was always busy on the ward.  But when off duty she spent an excessive amount of time alone at home reading novels and sleeping.  And when she did socialize with fellow volunteers she would become overly happy and histrionic and end of laughing herself sometimes to the point of tears and sobbing.  She was physically and psychologically assessed by a doctor and it was determined that it would be best for her to return home.  She left Fiji in a good frame of mind.  She had done a fine job while working as a nurse in the hospital, but she accepted the fact that she just wasn�t cut out for long-term overseas assignments. 

     However, the overwhelming majority of Peace Corps Volunteers are successful because it�s what they signed up for in the first place.  There was one guy in our training group who wanted a very rigorous Peace Corps experience and felt that Fiji was too developed and comfortable for him.  At the end of training he took an option of getting reassigned before the final swearing-in ceremony and ended up in Nepal.    There is a lot of truth in the Peace Corps recruiting slogan that says  �it�s the toughest job you�ll ever love.�  It is psychologically demanding, even grueling sometimes with regard to cross-cultural adjustment requirements, but is also immensely challenging and rewarding with regard to the character building and personal enrichment and achievement aspects of it.   Some volunteers even become significantly resocialized into the local culture and coupled with fluency in the language these are the volunteers who are said to have �gone local.�  They are usually very successful volunteers and also the ones who are most remembered by the local people after they return home � if they ever return home.  But �going local� is not a necessary requirement for a completely successful Peace Corps experience.

     Not all expatriates take overseas jobs for enriching cross-cultural experience and hardships.  Becoming bicultural or bilingual is not in everyone�s job description and neither is it always a prerequisite for being a success overseas, but it obviously helps.  Today most multinational businesses provide cross-cultural and language training for employees who will be stationed overseas, and the U.S. Foreign Service, a pioneer in this field, has developed this type of training to a fine science.

Effects of Cross-Culturalization

     People who become cross-culturalized through informal or formal training will undergo some very fundamental changes in their thoughts, emotions and behaviors due to the neural rewiring which takes place in their brain and the changes in the way they process information.   Our thought processes become more sophisticated and complex as we factor new cultural norms into our daily lives. We build new neural networks and alter existing ones, and we construct new and more complex cognitive maps with these networks.   We learn to naturally for multiple points- of- view and more possible explanations for the thoughts, emotions and behaviors of the people we interact with.   We engage less in simplistic cultural - stereotyping and gradually develop the ability to see through the cultural lenses of the local people.  We also learn that it is wise to suspend judgment sometimes and admit that we are not yet ready to understand something about the host-country people.  We gradually learn to tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty and to more patiently wait for insight and understanding to come.   We learn to understand and control our ethnocentrism and the ways in which our own culture influences us.

     Changes in our thoughts and emotions eventually lead to behaviors that can either be successful or unsuccessful while living in another culture.  A consistent production of unsuccessful behaviors is normally an indication of culture shock.   Symptoms of culture-shock include negative stereotyping, excessive criticism of host country people and their ways, anger and resentment, depression, sullenness and withdrawal.  People experience stress when they can�t successfully communicate with other people or make themselves understood by them.  It can be emotionally demanding to always be unsure of how people will think, feel and behave.  Each day can bring disconfirmed expectancies and linguistic communication difficulties and it can sometimes be cognitively and emotionally exhausting for a person just to get through an average working day.  Successful cross-cultural communications allows one to be at ease in the host culture and form real friendships and working relationship with the local people.

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Cross Culture Communication

Collaborative Efforts a Must!

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© iStockphoto/timsa

"We didn't all come over on the same ship, but we're all in the same boat."

- Bernard Baruch, American financier and statesman

It's no secret that today's workplace is rapidly becoming vast, as the business environment expands to include various geographic locations and span numerous cultures. What can be difficult, however, is understanding how to communicate effectively with individuals who speak another language or who rely on different means to reach a common goal..

Cross-Cultural Communication – The New Norm

The Internet and modern technology have opened up new marketplaces, and allow us to promote our businesses to new geographic locations and cultures. And given that it can now be as easy to work with people remotely as it is to work face-to-face, cross-cultural communication is increasingly the new norm.

After all, if communication is electronic, it's as easy to work with someone in another country as it is to work with someone in the next town.

And why limit yourself to working with people within convenient driving distance when, just as conveniently, you can work with the most knowledgeable people in the entire world?

For those of us who are native English-speakers, it is fortunate that English seems to be the language that people use if they want to reach the widest possible audience. However, even for native English speakers, cross-cultural communication can be an issue: Just witness the mutual incomprehension that can sometimes arise between people from different English-speaking countries.

In this new world, good cross-cultural communication is a must.

Understanding Cultural Diversity

Given different cultural contexts, this brings new communication challenges to the workplace. Even when employees located in different locations or offices speak the same language (for instance, correspondences between English-speakers in the U.S. and English-speakers in the UK), there are some cultural differences that should be considered in an effort to optimize communications between the two parties.

In such cases, an effective communication strategy begins with the understanding that the sender of the message and the receiver of the message are from different cultures and backgrounds. Of course, this introduces a certain amount of uncertainty, making communications even more complex.

Without getting into cultures and sub-cultures, it is perhaps most important for people to realize that a basic understanding of cultural diversity is the key to effective cross-cultural communications. Without necessarily studying individual cultures and languages in detail, we must all learn how to better communicate with individuals and groups whose first language, or language of choice, does not match our own.

Developing Awareness of Individual Cultures

However, some learning the basics about culture and at least something about the language of communication in different countries is important. This is necessary even for the basic level of understanding required to engage in appropriate greetings and physical contact, which can be a tricky area inter-culturally. For instance, kissing a business associate is not considered an appropriate business practice in the U.S., but in Paris, one peck on each cheek is an acceptable greeting. And, the handshake that is widely accepted in the U.S. is not recognized in all other cultures.

While many companies now offer training in the different cultures where the company conducts business, it is important that employees communicating across cultures practice patience and work to increase their knowledge and understanding of these cultures. This requires the ability to see that a person's own behaviors and reactions are oftentimes culturally driven and that while they may not match our own, they are culturally appropriate.

If a leader or manager of a team that is working across cultures or incorporates individuals who speak different languages, practice different religions, or are members of a society that requires a new understanding, he or she needs to work to convey this.

Consider any special needs the individuals on your team may have. For instance, they may observe different holidays, or even have different hours of operation. Be mindful of time zone differences and work to keep everyone involved aware and respectful of such differences.

Generally speaking, patience, courtesy and a bit of curiosity go a long way. And, if you are unsure of any differences that may exist, simply ask team members. Again, this may best be done in a one-on-one setting so that no one feels "put on the spot" or self-conscious, perhaps even embarrassed, about discussing their own needs or differences or needs.

Demand Tolerance

Next, cultivate and demand understanding and tolerance. In doing this, a little education will usually do the trick. Explain to team members that the part of the team that works out of the Australia office, for example, will be working in a different time zone, so electronic communications and/or return phone calls will experience a delay. And, members of the India office will also observe different holidays (such as Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday, observed on Oct. 2).

Most people will appreciate the information and will work hard to understand different needs and different means used to reach common goals. However, when this is not the case, lead by example and make it clear that you expect to be followed down a path of open-mindedness, acceptance and tolerance.

Tip:
Tolerance is essential, however you need to maintain standards of acceptable behavior. The following "rules of thumb" seem universal:

• Team members should contribute to and not hinder the team's mission or harm the delivery to the team's customer.
• Team members should not damage the cohesion of the team or prevent it from becoming more effective.
• Team members should not unnecessarily harm the interests of other team members.

Other factors (such as national law) are obviously important.

When dealing with people in a different culture, courtesy and goodwill can also go a long way in ensuring successful communication. Again, this should be insisted on.

If your starting point in solving problems is to assume that communication has failed, you'll find that many problems are quickly resolved.

Keep It Simple

When you communicate, keep in mind that even though English is considered the international language of business, it is a mistake to assume that every businessperson speaks good English. In fact, only about half of the 800 million people who speak English learned it as a first language. And, those who speak it as a second language are often more limited than native speakers.

When you communicate cross-culturally, make particular efforts to keeping your communication clear, simple and unambiguous.

And (sadly) avoid humor until you know that the person you're communicating with "gets it" and isn't offended by it. Humor is notoriously culture-specific: Many things that pass for humor in one culture can be seen as grossly offensive in another.

And Get Help If You Need It

Finally, if language barriers present themselves, it may be in every one's best interest to employ a reliable, experienced translator.

Because English is not the first language of many international businesspeople, their use of the language may be peppered with culture-specific or non-standard English phrases, which can hamper the communication process. Again, having a translator on hand (even if just during the initial phases of work) may be the best solution here. The translator can help everyone involved to recognize cultural and communication differences and ensure that all parties, regardless of geographic location and background, come together and stay together through successful project completion.

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Jaffna University Tamil students boycott classes

By Charles HavilandBBC News, Colombo

The campus was the scene of the worst political disturbances since the war ended in 2009

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Students at Jaffna University in northern Sri Lanka have started a two-day boycott of classes after clashes with security forces on Wednesday.

They say they do not feel safe after several were beaten and injured in the worst political disturbances since the civil war ended in 2009.

Security forces entered the university, disrupting students marking a commemoration of dead rebel fighters.

The army said it had to restrain people who were throwing stones.

But some staff 

at the university accused the security forces of starting the violence, saying they believe the police baton-charged a group of students who had begun a planned march through the streets.

Only after that did some students throw stones, they said.

One staff member told the BBC the aftermath of the clashes was "like a battlefield". And on Thursday, reports said there was little activity on the campus.

There were Sinhala and Muslim as well as Tamil students on the campus, one staff member emphasised.

Tension in the north

Across the former war zone in northern and eastern Sri Lanka there is a higher military presence than usual.

Asked by the BBC why the students in Jaffna should not be allowed to march in the streets, Jaffna's military commander, Maj-Gen Mahinda Hathurusinghe, said the students have been "categorically told not to" because "they would become violent".

He said that "for the betterment of the country", "Martyrs' Day" - which commemorates dead Tamil Tiger fighters - should not be observed by people.

The tensions arose as some students marked the death of Tamil Tiger guerrillas at small candle-lit memorials, while well-produced pro-Tiger posters appeared in various parts of the formerly Tiger-held territory.

Since the end of the war this had hardly happened within Sri Lanka, where the Tigers and their separatist ideology are strictly banned - although Tiger sympathisers in the diaspora call 27 November "Martyrs' Day" and mark it as such.

The clashes point to simmering tensions three-and-a-half years after the mainly Sinhalese security forces crushed the Tamil separatists, and as the army maintains tight control over the whole of the north where the war was fought most bitterly.

In a Jaffna suburb, a petrol-bomb was thrown at the offices of a small Tamil political party on Thursday. There were no reports of injuries. It is unclear who did it or whether it was related to the campus trouble.

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Sri Lanka's Jaffna sees clashes over Tamil rebel remembrance

Continue reading the main storyWitnesses says students were attacked by security forces

Related Stories

• UN 'failed Sri Lanka civilians'
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28 November 2012 Last updated at 20:22 GMT

Students and security forces have clashed in Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka in the worst political disturbances since civil war ended in 2009.

A Tamil politician accused the military of injuring a newspaper editor and several students.

The army said it had to restrain people who were throwing stones.

Security forces had entered Jaffna University, disrupting students who were marking Martyrs Day, which commemorates dead Tamil Tiger fighters.

The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says these were the biggest overtly political disturbances in the north since the war ended more than three years ago.

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உயிர்கொல்லி டெங்கு

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One and only professional Tamil Media training centre in Srilanka by Mr Thevananth

 The Media Resources and Training Centre (MRTC) under faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna was initiated by the Royal Danish Embassy in New Delhi in November 2002 and it started its work in June 2003. It was a joint venture of the Royal Danish Government, UNESCO and University of Jaffna.

Now, Norwegian government and Danish foreign ministry are jointly supporting to running this centre. FOJO Sweden is the consultant for the institute.

MRTC Media Study programme specifically attuned to this new media landscape offering a blend of media production skills, digital tools, creativity is required  
                    
MRTC diploma course places diploma holders in the starting blocks of a broad range of media production careers with a wide knowledge base and some specific skill sets.

 In preparation for an industry in which job and skills boundaries are now converging, technical/production skills, team and communication skills, a creative outlook and an understanding of contemporary media practice and business model is the need of the hour.

MRTC Professional diploma programme develops students who can adapt to changes in this fast moving and constantly evolving media environment.            

                      
Our students have been working  on lab journal, video journal and online journal during their study and have gone on to work in a range of media occupations.

The Tamil medium Journalism  programme offered by MRTC  is the first of its kind in the country.  The courses we offering  are of exceptional quality and meet the demands of the media and creative industries for talented and highly skilled diploma holders. 

  
MRTC has productive working relationships with media industry partners, including regional, national and international media

Teaching is led by experienced industry practitioners and highly qualified tutors who guide students towards a critical and historical understanding of print, radio, television, film and new media cultures.  

                

Vision Statement of MRTC

The MRTC is committed to the pursuit of teaching, professional excellence and distinctiveness within a diverse range of media professionals.

The MRTC diploma holders will be equipped with knowledge and skills essential for active journalist .They will be articulate, literate and intellectually inquisitive. Our diploma holders will have a capacity for rigorous and disciplined analysis and will have highly-developed attitudes of critical inquiry, creative reflection and openness to cultural difference and diversity.

Objectives of MRTC

To increase the journalistic skills of the editorial staff and provincial reporters in the existing newspapers published in Northern Sri Lanka.

To enable the media professionals to access common resources and facilities to function as effective journalists

To enhance the capacity of editorial staff with modern technologies 

To sensitise the journalists, civil society, government and political activists on media functions in building a democratic society.

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ஈழத்தவர் குறும்பட விழா - 2012

யாழ்ப்பாணப் பல்கலைக்கழக ஊடக வளங்கள் மற்றும் பயிற்சி மையத்தின் ஏற்பாட்டில் இடம் பெற்ற ஈழத்தவர் குறும்பட விழாவின் ஆரம்ப நிகழ்வுகள் 27.10.2012 வியாழக்கிழமை பயிற்சி மையத்தில் இப் பயிற்சி மையத்தின் இயக்குனர் தே.தேவானந் தலைமையில் இடம் பெற்றது. இந் நிகழ்வில் பிரதம விருந்தினராக யாழ்ப்பாணப் பல்கலைக்கழக கலைப்பீடாதிபதி பேராசிரியர் சிவநாதன், சிறப்பு விருந்தினராக முன்னாள் துணைவேந்தரும் வாழ்நாள் பேராசிரியருமான பொன்.பாலசுந்தரம்பிள்ளை போன்றோர் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

இந் நிகழ்வின் முதல் அமர்வில் “திரைப்படம் மற்றும் குறுந்திரைப்படம் எனும் தலைப்பில் எழுத்தாளர் குப்பிளான் சண்முகம் அவர்களின் கருத்துரை இடம் பெற்றதுடன் தண்ணீர், சலனம், மறுபக்கம், அவசரம், பொறி, ஹத்தால், பச்சை மண் சுட்ட மண், எங்கள் சுறுட்டு, கால் போன்ற குறுந்திரைப்படங்களும் காட்சிப்படுத்தப்பட்டன.

 இரண்டாம் நாள் அமர்வில் யாழ்ப்பாணப் பல்கலைக்கழக விரிவுரையாளர் விமல்சுவாமிநாதன் மற்றும் முன்னாள் கலைப்பீடாதிபதி சிவச்சந்திரன் ஆகியோரின் தலைமையில் இடம் பெற்ற இரண்டாம் நாள் நிகழ்வில் “கைத்தொலைபேசி குறும்படம்” எனும் தலைப்பில் ஊடகவளங்கள் மற்றும் பயிற்சி மைய இயக்குனர் தே.தேவானந், “மக்கள் தொடர்பாடல் ஊடகமாக குறும்படங்கள்” எனும் தலைப்பில் கவிஞர் சோ.பத்மநாதன் கருத்துரைகளை வழங்கினர். இதில் இதுவே போதும், இழந்தோம், ஊமைமொழிகள், சாசனம், கனவு ஊடகவளங்கள் மற்றும் பயிற்சி மைய மாணவர்களின் இயக்கத்தில் உருவான குறும்படங்களும் விடியுமா, வாழ்க்கையே போராட்டம், பேரன் பேர்த்தி, எதுமட்டும், வட்டம், வெள்ளைப்பூக்கள், இடைவளி, பூமாலை, ஊனம் ஆகிய குறுந்திரைப்படங்களும் காட்சிப்படுத்தப்பட்டன.

இந் நிகழ்வில் பிரதம விருந்தினர் உரையை நிகழ்த்திய கலைப்பீடாதிபதி பேராசிரியர் சிவநாதன் தான் இந்த குறும்பட நிகழ்விற்கு வருகை தந்ததிற்கு மகிழ்ச்சியடைவதாகவும் வர்த்தக நிலையங்களின் மையத்தில் ஓர் உயிர்ப்புடையதொன்றாக ஊடக வளங்கள் மற்றும் பயிற்சி மையம் அமைந்துள்ளது எனவும் கூறினார்.

மேலும் நிகழ்வில் சிறப்பு விருந்தினர் உரையை நிகழ்த்திய முன்னாள் துணைவேந்தரும் வாழ்நாள் பேராசிரியருமான பொன்.பாலசுந்தரம்பிள்ளை அவர்கள் உரையாற்றும் போது ஊடக வளங்கள் மற்றும் பயிற்சி மையம் தொழில்சார் ஊடகவியளாளர்களை உருவாக்குவதில் திறமையுடன் செயற்படுவதாகவும் இங்கு கற்கும் மாணவர்கள் அச்சு ஊடகம், இலத்திரனியல் ஊடகம், புதிய ஊடகம் போன்றவற்றில் பயிற்சிகளை பெற்று வெளியேறுகின்றமை மகிழ்ச்சிக்குரிய விடயம் எனவும் கூறினார்.

மேலும் இந் நிகழ்வில் குறும்படத் தயாரிப்பாளர்கள், ஆர்வலர்கள், பயிற்சி மைய மாணவர்கள் எனப்பலரும் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

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WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY EVENTS IN COLOMBO – 9 to 13 OCTOBER

LOVING HEARTS CAN CHANGE MINDS

BOOK LAUNCH, ART EXHIBITION, FORUM THEATRE, MARCH AND OPEN DAY

Mental health affects everyone. And, the fact is anyone can get a mental illness, no matter their gender, education level or economic status. World Mental Health Day on October 10 is an annual event aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimate affects one in ten people across the globe.

This year’s specific focus is on depression - a very common mental disorder that can have severe consequences, but CAN be successfully treated. According to the WHO, by 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of world disability and by 2030; it is expected to be the largest contributor to disease burden.

“For too long, mental illness has been the cause of great shame, causing people to be abandoned by their families, discriminated by employers and rejected by potential marriage partners. These attitudes need to change and the time for change is now,” said Dr. Jayan Mendis, Director, NIMH.

To coincide with the theme of World Mental Health Day, Halfway Home Mulleriyawa and Amba Tea Estate will be launching a booked entitled “Happy? – Expressions of Mental Well-Being”, which examines the beliefs and attitudes we all have about mental wellness.

Featuring quotes from Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara, local author Shyam Selvadurai and international author Joanna Trollope, as well as various drawings and thoughts from the general public, the publication will challenge your idea about what it means to be happy. All proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards supporting livelihood projects for the residents at Halfway Home Mulleriyawa.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) requests your help in promoting the launch of the book and our other various public events, which are being supported by Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO) and funded by the European Union, WHO,  Amba Tea Estate and other generous donors.

The media and public are invited to attend the following events:

National school art, essay and slogan exhibition – National Art Gallery 9, 10 and 11 October – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Officially being opened by chief guest, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ms. Robyn Mudie, at 9:00 a.m. on 9 October, the exhibition will showcase how Sri Lanka’s next generation view mental health issues through their art, essays and slogans. Everyone is invited to check out this engaging display. The closing ceremony will be held on 11 October at the National Art Gallery with the chief guest, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Maheepala at 8:30 a.m.

 

Book launch and sale of “Happy? – Expressions of Mental Well-Being” – National Art Gallery
9 October – 9 a.m.

Come for the book launch, take a look at the finished copy and buy a copy of your own to support livelihood projects for residents at Mulleriyawa.

 

World Mental Health Day ‘March for Mental Health’ – National Art Gallery

10 October – 7:30 a.m.

With chief guest Hon. Mathripala Sirisena, Minister of Health, the march starts at 7:30 a.m. from the National Art Gallery and will finish at Lipton Circus. Everyone is welcome to join in the walk and show their support for mental health care in Sri Lanka.

Open Day - National Institute of Mental Health

12 and 13 October – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

NIMH will be hosting an open house for the general public featuring an art exhibition, forum theatre craft sale, butterfly making and fun for the whole family.

 

The event will officially be opened on 12 October at 9 a.m. by the First Lady of Sri Lanka, Her Excellency, Ms. Shiranthi Rajapaksa and on 13 October at 8 a.m. by Hon. Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Education.

 

We will also have information about how and where to get help for people or families experiencing mental health issues and the NIMH psycho-geriatric unit will provide a free memory skill assessment. A trained staff member will also be available to conduct cognitive assessments.

 

For more information, contact the NIMH media unit, Shaun Humphries (English) on 0775 176 365 or shaunhumps@yahoo.com            ENDS

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யாழ்ப்பாணதில் மிகவும் தரமான ஊடகப்பயிற்சி; வழங்கப்படுகிறது.

(கடந்த செப்ரெம்பர் 27,28ம் திகதிகளில் யாழ்ப்பாணப்பல்கலைக்கழக ஊடக வளங்கள் மற்றும் பயிற்சி நிலையத்தில் நடைபெற்ற ;ஈழத்தவர்கள் குறுந்திரைப்பட விழா’  ஆரம்ப நாள் நிகழ்வில் சிறப்பு விருந்தினராக கலந்து கலந்து கொண்ட வாழ்நாள் பேராசிரியர் பொ.பாலசுந்தரம்பிள்ளை ஆற்றிய உரை  இங்கு தரப்படுகின்றது.)


யாழ்ப்பாணப்பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் ஊடக வளங்கள் பயிற்சி மையத்தை உருவாக்கியவர்கள் வடஇலங்கைப் பத்திரிகையாளர் சங்கத்தினர. அதன் தலைவராக இருக்கின்ற திரு கதிரகாமத்தம்பி மேற்கொண்ட கடுமையான  முயற்சியின் பயனாகவே இந்த நிறவனம் யுனெஸ்கோ நிறுவனத்தின் உதவியுடன் உருவாகியது. அப்போது நான் யாழ்ப்பாணப்பல்கலைக்கழகத்திற்கு துணை வேந்தராக இருந்தேன். எனது காலத்தில் தான் இந்த நிறுவனம் உருவாகியது. இந்த நிறுவனத்தின் உருவாக்கத்துக்கு மூல காரணமாக இருந்த வட இலங்கை பத்திரிகையாளர் சங்கத்தை நாம் எப்போதும் மறந்து விடக் கூடாது. இதை நாம் எப்போதும் நினைவில் கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

2003ம் ஆண்டு யுனெஸ்கோ நிறுவனம் இதனை உருவாக்குவதற்கு தேவையான உதவிகளை செய்தது. அப்போது டென்மார்க் நிதிவழங்கியது. பின்னர் நோட்டிக் நாடுகளான சுவீடன் , நோர்வே நாடுகள் இதில் இணைந்து நிதி வழங்கின. இதனை நடத்துவதற்கு யாழ்ப்பாணப்பல்கலைக்கழகம் முன்வந்ததது. இதற்காக மலாயன் பென்சனியர்களால் அன்பளிப்பாக கொடுக்கப்பட்ட யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில்  வர்த்தக நிலையங்களுக்கு மத்தியில் அமைந்துள்ள மலாயன் பென்சனியேர்ஸ் கட்டடம் பயன் படுத்தப்படுகிறது.

 மறைந்த பேராசிரியர் கைலாசபதியின் தந்தையார் கனகசபாபதியவர்களின் முயற்சியால் யாழ்ப்பாணப்பல்கலைக்கழகத்துக்கு இந்தக் கட்டம் ஒப்படைக்கப்பட்டது. அவர், கடைசியாக இருந்த ஒரு சில மலாயன் பென்சனியர்களில் ஒருவர்;. இந்தக் கட்டடத்தை நல்லதொரு பணிக்காக ஒப்படைக்க வேண்டும் என்று நினைத்து யாழ்ப்பாணப்பல்கலைக்கழகத்துக்கு அன்பளிப்பாக வழங்கினார். இந்தக்;கட்டடம் இன்று ஊடகவியலாளர்களை உருவாக்கும் ஒரு முக்கியமான பணிக்காக பயன்படுத்தப்படுகிறது.

யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் ஊடகத்துறை பலம்மிக்கதாக மாறி வருகிறது. ஆறு தினசரிப் பத்திரிகைகள் வெளிவருகின்றன, தொலைக்காட்சியொன்று இயங்குகின்றது. இலங்கை ஒலிபரப்புக்கூட்டுத்தாபனத்தின் கிளையொன்றும் இயங்குகின்றது. ஊடகத்துறையில் பயிற்றப்பட்டவர்களின் தேவை அதிகம் உள்ளது. அதற்கு ஈடுகொடுக்கும் வகையில் சிறந்த ஊடகவியலாளர்களை யாழ்ப்பாணப் பல்கலைக்கழகம் உருவாக்கி வருகின்றது.

யாழ்.பல்கலைக்கழக ஊடக வளங்கள் மற்றும் பயிற்சி மையம் கடந்த பத்தாண்டுகளாக இயங்கிவருகின்றது. தற்போது இரண்டாண்டு டிப்ளோமா பயிற்சி  நெறி நடைபெறுகின்றது. இதில் மாணவர்களுக்கு பத்திரிகைத்துறை, ரி.வி, றோடியோ மற்றும் இணையத்தில் பயிற்சியளிக்கப்படுகிறது. இங்கு பயிற்சி பெற்ற மாணவர்கள் பல ஊடகங்களில் வேலைசெய்கிறார்கள். இவர்களை நான் பல இடங்களிலும் காணக்கிடைக்கிறது. திறம்;படச் செய்கிறார்கள். இவர்களின் கணணி அறிவு கணணிப்பட்டதாரிகளுக்கு நிகராகவுள்ளது. நாங்கள் இதை ஆரம்பித்ததன் நோக்கத்தை நோக்கி இந்த நிறுவனம் செல்கிறது.  யாழ்ப்பாணப் பல்கலைக்கழகம் வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு அனுப்பி ஊடகத்துறையில் மேற்படிப்பை பேற்கொண்டவர்கள் மீண்டும் இங்கு வந்து பல்கலைக்கழகத்திற்கு வேலை செய்கிறார்கள்.

இப்போ யாழ்.பல்கலைக் கழகத்தில் ஊடக பட்டப்படிப்பு கற்கையும், ஊடகவளங்கள் பயிற்சி மையத்தில் டிப்ளோமா கற்கை நெறியும் மேற்கொள்ளப்படுகின்றன.

ஊடக வளங்கள் பயிற்சி மையத்தில் சிறந்த களநிலைப்பயிற்சிகள் வளங்கப்படுகின்றன. தனி;யே வகுப்பறைக் கற்கைநெறியாக மட்டுமன்றி தொழில்முறைத் தேர்ச்சியுள்ளவர்களை உருவாக்கும் செயற்பாடுகள் இதன் மூலம் சிறப்பாக முன்னெடுக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன. ஏனக்குப் பிறகு இந்த நிறுவனத்தின் இயக்குனராக இருக்கின்ற தேவானந்த் இதை சிறப்பாக நடத்தி வருகின்றார். இவர் இந்தியா சென்று சென்னைப்பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் ஊடகத்துறையில் பட்ட மேற்படிப்பை மேற்கொண்டது இதற்கு உதவியாகவுள்ளது. தனது அனுபவம் மூலம் மாணவர்களுக்கு பல்வேறு பட்ட அனுபவங்களை இவரால் வழங்க முடிகிறது. இந்த மாணவர்கள் சிறப்பாக இயங்கி வருகிறார்கள். பல இடங்களிலும் இதனை நாம் நேரில் பார்க்கிறோம்.
இந்த மையம் நிதி நிறுவனங்களின் நிதி நிறுத்தப்பட்ட பின்னாலும் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தினால் தொடர்ச்சியாக இயக்கப்படும். இந்த நிறுவனம் ஆரம்பிக்ப்பட்ட போது கொழும்பிலும் இதே போன்ற ஒரு நிறுவனத்தை ஆரம்பித்தார்கள். ஆனால் அங்கு வழங்கப்படுகின்ற பயிற்சிகளை விட இங்கு சிறப்பான பயிற்சி வழங்கப்படுகின்றது. பல்கலைக்கழத்தின் சான்றிதழ் கிடைக்கிறது. எங்களுக்கு ஒரு மாயை இருக்கிறது கொழும்பில் அதிக பணம் கொடுத்து படிப்பது சிறந்தது என்று. அது உண்மையிலேயே தவறானது. நாங்கள் இங்கு குறைந்த பணச் செலவோடு சிறப்பாக கற்ப்பிக்கின்றோம். சிறந்த தகுதியான ஆசிரியர்களால் கற்பிக்கப்படுகிறது.
இன்று இங்கிலாந்தில் அதிக சம்பளம் பெறுபவர்கள் பத்திரிகை ஆசிரியர்கள்.அவர்களுக்கு சமூக அந்தஸ்தும் அதிகமாக உள்ளது. அவர்கள் தான் அனைத்தையும் தீர்மானிக்கின்ற சக்தியாக உள்ளார்கள். அந்த நிலைமை இங்கு வரவேண்டும் ,எனவே மாணவர்கள் கிடைத்த சந்தர்ப்பத்தை சரியாக பயன்படுத்திக் கொண்டு சிறந்த பத்திரகையாளர்களாக வரவேண்டும் உங்களுக்கு சிறந்த எதிர்காலம் உண்டு.

வாழ்நாள் பேராசிரியர் பொ.பாலசுந்தரம்பிள்ளை
(பேரவை உறுப்பினர், யாழ்ப்பாணப்பல்கலைக்கழகம்) 

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Diploma in Journalism

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Training Media Students on Child Protection in Jaffna

Submitted by pushpi on August 30, 2012 – 4:28 am   at  Srilankan Reconciliation Youth Forum http://reconciliationyouthforum.org/training-media-students-on-child-protection-in-jaffna/

Recently,Save the children held discussions with Media Resources and Training Centre(MRTC) affiliated to the University of Jaffna about the current situation of child abuse in Jaffna . Mr. Devanand, the Director of MRTC felt that it will be of paramount importance and relevance to the students of media to have knowledge on child rights and child protection because as they complete their diploma and become the eyes, ears and the voice of society, they can play a major role in both preventing and reporting on child abuse in the district.

Media Training in Jaffna

The training which was held during the final week in July included;  an introduction to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; reporting to the UN CRC Committee by the State; types of  child abuse; child protection structures; media’s role in reporting on children’s issues and interviewing children. The training was followed by group assignments where all 50 students in small groups, visited villages  and found stories about children’s issues and reported them on a medium of their choice. This was done as a competition among the teams to select the best three in terms of the presentation of content.   During the visits, the students identified many child rights violations. one group was instrumental in re- enrolling a 14 year old boy who had dropped out of school due to parental separation.

The winners of the competition identified a village in Thellipalai division which did not have a preschool for the last 24 years.  The team   carried out an investigation and found out that the Grama Sevaka had occupied the building in which the preschool was functioning previously. The teams’ efforts started the process to reopen the preschool ensuring the right to education for all the children in the village. The team which was placed second, explored the structures and services available for psychosocial support for children while the team which won third place explored the legal aspects of child abuse.

All the students received  certificates of participation while the winning teams received trophies and certificates. Save the Children also negotiated with Yarl FM ( the Jaffna channel of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation) to provide opportunities for these students to become relief announcers.

Ms Calyaneratne awarding certificates to the participants

By: Menaca Calyaneratne-Director Member Service and Advocacy-Save the Children

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