Photo Essays
 
War and Peace
A lot has changed since my last article “War and Websites”. Prabakaran has been declared dead. Celebration in the Sinhalese areas, tears in the Tamil areas.
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Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher and U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Robert Blake met with several U.S.-based organizations representing members of the Tamil diaspora to discuss the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.
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Exhibition
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Sundar is amongst India’s finest Photographers. He also dedicates his time to the Sri Lankan Refugee cause as a resource person. He has clicked a large number of heart warming pictures beautifully expressing the lives of Ceylon Tamil refugees. He extended his best support to OfERR in conducting the Refugee Children's Drawing Exhibition "Sunshine in a Tear Drop" held in Chennai, Goa, New York and Boston.
Kandeepan is the Coordinator of OfERR’s Computer Unit. He is an extremely hardworking person and contributes immensely through his photographs and films depicting the camp life. He keeps OfERR technologically updated and is a great source of inspiration for other refugees who wish to pursue a similar path.
Gladston Xavier, OfERR Resource Person and Professor in the Social Work Department of Loyola College, Chennai, is a rare and kindled mind He has used his time and intellect to heal the wounds of a fractured Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee community through his unwavering support and expertise in numerous areas (Peace Building and Conflict Transformation being the most noteworthy).
"Leaders are not born, but they are made" - Thenmozhi is a remarkable example of this statement. She heads the Women Empowerment section which is the backbone of OfERR's services. Her contribution in empowering individual women and groups is second to none. She is a fiercely independent yet accommodating person with a plethora of understanding on the problems facing the refugee women.
Ratnarajasingam is the Coordinator of OfERR’s Income Generation Unit. He is a man of unique enterprise and entrepreneurial inclination. He has made significant contributions in the spread of successful business and income generation activities among the refugees. He is the driving force behind the successful Spirulina program and its spread via frequent training programs at the camp, district and regional level. He is also responsible for spearheading the Training on Mushroom Cultivation and spreading knowledge/use of Renewable energy.
OfERR’s advocacy work with the Governments of India and Tamil Nadu expanded in response to steady flow of new arrivals. Meetings and discussions were held at several levels starting from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to Central Ministers and Civil Servants in Chennai and New Delhi. These meetings and interactions paid valuable dividends in improving the political climate for the refugees in India as well as accessing facilities for the refugees in the camps. The greatest result of this advocacy work was the doubling of the Government dole paid to the refugees.
Approximately 80,000 refugees are accommodated in the Sri Lankan refugees camp run by State Government in the 25 Administrative Districts across Tamil Nadu. The Camps are well taken care and the refugees are provided best facilities to lead a peaceful life.