WUSC Sri Lanka Welcomes Minister Oda

WUSC has been empowering and inspiring Sri Lankans for twenty years. Since 1989, more than 20,000 Sri Lankans have gained the vocational trade skills needed for employment or self-employment delivered through WUSC's Project for Rehabilitation through Education and Training.

In August 2009, Honorable Beverly J. Oda, Canada's Minister for International Cooperation visited one of Sri Lanka's northern districts, Vavuniya, to meet beneficiaries of Canadian development programming. WUSC was pleased to introduce her to some of the graduates supported by PRET and to the local partners that deliver the training courses. Minister Oda was welcomed at the Vocational Training Centre operated by one of WUSC's partners, the Organization for Rehabilitation of Handicapped (ORHAN). After a tour of the facility and a colourful exhibition of products made by the trainees, Minister Oda spoke directly with a number of the young women and men that completed their training and are now employed.

ORHAN is one of PRET's 47 vocational training partners and has delivered a number of PRET courses in trades such as Leather Work, Radio Repair, Electrical Wiring and Computer Hardware. Mr. Suberamaniyam, President of ORHAN, discussed the capacity building aspects of the PRET support, which have enabled the organization to register nationally as a Vocational Training providing institution that delivers accredited courses.

The visit to Vavuniya was preceded by briefings in Colombo where Minister Oda met with representatives of WUSC's three projects in Sri Lanka; PRET, and the newer additions to the programming portfolio, the Plantations Communities Project and Women Defining Peace. Minister Oda was keenly interested in the development initiatives proudly showcasing Canadian involvement as Sri Lanka recovers from years of conflict and disasters including the tsunami of 2004.