Sri Lanka

Inspiring Youth to Become Amplifiers of Freedom of Expression in Sri Lanka

Through creating “Incubator Spaces” as a space for free, creative and unrestricted thinking in three universities based in Colombo, Peradeniya and Jaffna districts in Sri Lanka, Helvetas is empowering future journalists and media professionals through training and multi-disciplinary learning to become amplifiers of ethical and socially responsible media expression.

Project Name

InSPIRE – Incubator Space for Promoting Information Right and freedom of Expression
Project Phase

2019 to 2023
Funding

Funded by the European Union
Thematic focus

Youth
Learning & Innovation
Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion

Creating Space for Gender Sensitive and Socially Responsible Exercise of Freedom of Fxpression

In post war Sri Lanka, it has been observed that youth have been disengaged and unfamiliar with multiple dimensions of fundamental freedoms and have been vulnerable both economically and socially, and are relatively passive citizens in democratic processes and in times of national crises. Currently, the literacy rate of youth in Sri Lanka stands at 97%. Yet, the same youth lack in critical reasoning due to a variety of reasons such as: lack of multidisciplinary learning opportunities and gaps in existing courses and curriculums in schools and universities with minimal or no emphasis on online ethics, digital citizenship, right to information and fundamental freedoms.

This project funded by the European Commission implemented in partnership with Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF) contributes to the enhancement of democracy and human rights in Sri Lanka. It seeks to empower a community of aspiring future media professionals and journalists through the establishment of Incubator Spaces in three Universities in Colombo, Kandy and Jaffna; through developing specialized modules to build capacity of the same professionals in order to produce creative media products thereby utilizing them as an amplifier for the gender sensitive and socially responsible use of new media in Sri Lanka. For the creation of the new media products, students will first pitch their ideas in idea market organized in the incubator spaces and, from thereon, be guided by mentors to develop quality media products that promote and strengthen freedom of expression in these areas.

As reaction of the COVID-19 pandemic, inSPIRE donated dry ration packs to 150 families consisting of female headed households, special needs children and families of extreme poverty selected from Doluwa Division in Kandy district.

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Donation of dry ration packs in Doluwa Division in Kandy district.

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As part of the inSPIRE project's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, a donation of Personal Protective Equipment item boxes consisting of hand sanitizers, gloves and masks was made to the University Grants Commission and the Colombo District Secretariat. © Helvetas Sri Lanka

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inSPIRE also donated protective equipment to the Faculty of Agriculture of Peradeniya Kandy University (picture), the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Sri Jayawardanapura and the Secretariat of Kandy District. © Helvetas Sri Lanka

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The aim of this project implemented in Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna and Batticaloa districts is to promote an increased understanding and respect for freedom of expression and information by empowering a community of youth to creatively express and advocate on gender sensitive freedom of expression and ethical and socially responsible media expressions.

Key activities include:

University-based trainings on civic activism, right to information, digital citizenship, media ethics and freedom of expression.
Practical learning workshops on Media Production clustered as per media categories. (Short films, documentaries, news production, digital art etc.)
Inter-District exchange learnings between selected clusters
Idea Markets for clusters to pitch concepts to experts to produce content.
Two Annual forums for sharing learning and strengthening the Network
One national forum for the dissemination of the new media products and research findings to multiple stakeholders.