*SDJF concludes two month training programme on promoting pluralistic
values through Radio drama*

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Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF) successfully completes its
two month weekend training and capacity building program on promoting
pluralistic values through radio drama. 19 students from three selected
schools representing three different ethnic groups attended this programme.
This programmes was supported by Neelan Thiruchchelvan Trust (NTT)


In the initial phase, students - 12 girls and 7 boys from three different
religious background – Hindu, Islam and Christianity, were educated on
different pluralistic values they can endorse such as respecting ethnic
diversity, religious tolerance, bridging gaps between religious groups,
enthusiastic engagement in integrating diversities, maintaining democracy,
respecting human rights, propagating non-violence, interfaith
communication, respecting law and order and encouraging dialogue to
understand each other.

During the second phase students were capacitated on translating the
pluralistic values they learnt into radio dramas. Special focus was given
to build vibrant human characters, dramatic settings, script writing,
developing intense story boards, working on drama language, editing
scripts, voicing, recording and directing radio drama. Whilst engaging in
this process, students improved their skills in developing stories on
themes dealing with conflict transformation, negotiation and dialogue,
tolerance, gender equality, peace building and strengthening reconciliation
process.


Radio drama is an effective and efficient medium of making attitudinal
change and peace building, strengthening reconciliation, fostering
pluralistic values and social development. These norms were practised only
by a limited number of trained broadcasters in Sri Lanka. Acting, scripting
and directing radio dramas were mostly performed by well-trained people and
rarely, opportunities were opened up for youth. Also, this is the first
truly committed radio drama program that created a platform for the
students to perform in promoting pluralistic values and strengthening
reconciliation.


At the end of the programme 10 scripts covering wide arrays of promoting
pluralistic values were developed by the students. The students got a rare
opportunity to be mingled with two radio drama veterans G. P Vedanayaham
and Lucus Thiruchcelkvam when the finalized scripts were acted. Final
recording took place in Jaffna Central College. Principal of Jaffna Central
College emphasized that this was the first time that students from Jaffna
Peninsula got this kind of an exposure to produce dramas for radio.


Commenting on this programme M.C. Rasmin, Director of SDJF noted that
initially the students were reluctant to be acquainted with students from
other ethnic groups. Nevertheless, during the training period they have
started working intimately with each other in developing plots and story
lines displaying that Sri Lanka’s future in terms of ethnic reconciliation
is not bleak. Meanwhile, soon after the final recording they started to cry
and hug each other marking an emotional moment of bidding adieu. Few
students sharing their attitudinal changes or inner transformations said
that the program on radio drama production has given them an opportunity to
learn the potential of other ethnic and religious groups in attaining a
common good for all, and how to respect people from different ethnic,
religious, linguistic, cultural and gender background. Also the process of
radio drama production has given the direct exposure to the students to
engage diversity.


I believe that the programme impacted immensely to change the ways how
students from different ethnic groups treated each other. For the last two
months they were fully engaged with the program. I think this is an
important practice that helps to eliminate the incompatibilities amongst
students when coping with multicultural societies and building a united Sri
Lanka, stated Mr. Elilvendan the principal of Jaffna Central College.

-- 
M C Rasmin
Director/CEO
Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF)
8/5, Liyanage Mavatha, Nawala, Rajagiriya
Mobile – +94 773 66 75 30, Office - +94 117 547073
Web – www.ldjf.org , Mail - [log in to unmask]
Skype – mcrasmin
Communication 4D