The SOS Vocational Training Centre in Monaragala was established in April 2006. Since Monaragala is located in one of the poorest provinces in the country, it was assessed that support is much needed in this area for youths from disadvantaged families who cannot afford education due to poverty and psychosocial reasons. This vocational training centre is registered under the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) and is highly recognised.
This training centre provides free vocational training courses to youths in need. The courses provided are: “Automobile Mechanic”, which is a one-year course; “Welder”, which is a seven-month course; “Wood Craftsman”, which is a one-year course; “Electrician”, another one-year course; “Computer Applications Assistant”, a six-month course; and “Baker”, which is another six-month course. All courses are conducted with extensive theory as well as practical lessons so students may obtain hands-on experience before they are sent to the field. After the completion of each course, the students are awarded with a NVQ Level 3 certificate. The courses are all provided completely free of charge to students, who may not otherwise be able to afford education. The SOS Vocational Training Centre in Monaragala has all the latest equipment and tools needed to provide highly updated and comprehensive courses to its students.
The Morning Brunch spoke to SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka, Piliyandala Communications Co-ordinator Najzi Ralli on the organisation's goals and achievements.
Prominent awards won by this training centre
The SOS Monaragala Vocational Training Centre has won many prominent awards over the years including “Best Island-wide Private Sector Training Provider” and “Best Private Sector Training Provider for the Uva Province”, which were won on World Youth Skills Day in 2019, organised by the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training, to name a couple. They have also been awarded the “Four Star Training Centre Certificate” issued by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission – 2020.
The SOS Vocational Training Centre is part of SOS Children’s Villages, Sri Lanka, which is a childcare organisation that provides a holistic approach to the care of children without parental care. There are six SOS Children’s Villages in Sri Lanka, currently caring for over 800 children without parental care. Apart from the Monaragala training centre, there are three more SOS vocational training centres in the country. There is also another project of SOS which is called the “SOS Family Strengthening Programme” that focuses on alleviating poverty-stricken families out of poverty. The ultimate objective of this project is to ensure children do not end up in childcare institutions owing to numerous problems families face due to poverty. This is why SOS focuses on strengthening poor families by nurturing their skills and knowledge so it will help them find better sources of income, which in turn will enable them to care for their own children without problems. Up to now, over 3,300 such poor families have made use of this programme in Sri Lanka to come out of poverty and gain financial freedom and security, Ralli informed us.
SOS’ ‘Family-Like Care’ and 40-year presence
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SOS Children’s Villages’ presence in the island[/caption]
Talking about what they do, Ralli added that SOS Children’s Villages builds families for children without parental care and other vulnerable children. When children cannot stay with their family or have no family, SOS Children’s Villages offer them a safe and loving home, a caring mother, together with supportive siblings, which makes up a family-like environment. This concept is called SOS “Family-Like Care”. This truly is a unique childcare mechanism that aids in giving a second chance to children who have lost their families. 2021 marks 40 years of presence by SOS Children’s Villages in Sri Lanka. Since its humble beginning in 1981, this organisation has cared for numerous children without parental care, strengthened many families, and provided skills training to youths in need, for a better future.
How you can help
All of this social work is carried out with help from local and foreign donors. However, the coronavirus pandemic has badly affected donations, which this organisation depends on in order to care for children in need and continue its social projects. Since this pandemic is a global crisis, continuity of foreign donations too are at risk. Therefore, SOS Children’s Villages is reaching out to all Sri Lankans for support in caring for children without parental care in Sri Lanka, especially in this time of crisis.
You can contact 0763 227 422 or 0718 693 208 if you would like to donate to help children in need.