2 NGO`s – 1 idea

The non profit associations “S.T.E.P.S. of forgiveness e.V.“ and “People Helping People Foundation“

“S.T.E.P.S. of forgiveness “e.V. and the “People Helping People Foundation” are closely cooperating non-governmental sister organizations who work in particular for the support of children, youth and women.
The organizations pursue their activities in a non-partisan and religiously neutral way and thereby are supported by state authorities.
“S.T.E.P.S. of forgiveness “e.V. and the “People Helping People Foundation” work in the educational sector. They organize special remedial programs for children from needy families. Furthermore they give school material to 1800 children from poor families.
An important goal of the organization is to overcome the ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese and Tamils. They work together with all ethnic, religious and political groups. Their aim is to support the trend towards rapprochement of the ethnic groups, especially among the younger generation and to strengthen the position and social recognition of women in Sri Lanka by promoting their professional career.
The chance of overcoming these boundaries is seen through education and encounter. The affected children are mainly from the poorest families. Many of them have become half- or complete orphans due to the civil war and the tsunami in 2004. The primary institutions such as the family who are traditionally taking care of the children’s education are either disrupted or missing. A large number of children have to abort their school education, as they are urged to help their parents at work. Many children have even never been at school; instead they work in the home of wealthy people or in factories for low wages.

The achieved goals of the “S.T.E.P.S. of forgiveness “eV and the” People Helping People Foundation” so far are the Organization of intercultural meetings and events. There they are involving all different ethnicities and religions. Every year they organize a children party in Batticaloa and Puttalam with 1800 children from 23 educational sites, communicating and spending time together in a playful context.
Furthermore they are teaching approximately 1000 children from poor families in 23 educational facilities in all school subjects with emphasis placed on learning both ethnic languages. Another reached aim is the employment of female teachers to support and promote women in the Sri Lankan society.