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Koulara, changing lives, the Dilmah Way |
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10.26.2007  Earlier this year the MJF Charitable Foundation adopted the isolated and deprived village of Koulara, within its Local Heroes initiative. The community was dependant on menial labour manually harvesting sugarcane and the Foundations objective was to empower them in more sustainable and rewarding livelihoods. The Animal Tracks pottery project was introduced to Koulara, combining livelihood enhancement, empowerment of women, and environmental sustainability in a multifaceted project.
Koulara, is a very remote village that is in close proximity to the Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka . This rural community has faced tremendous hardship with the loss of their traditional livelihood over twenty years ago. These villagers who were skilled in brick making were forced out of that occupation due to their inability to compete with more efficient and large scale brick making plants elsewhere, and they had little option but to resort to poorly paid menial labour at the local sugarcane plantation.
The MJF Foundation initiated a project that involved its resource partners IUCN and the Department of Wildlife Conservation to combine resources in uplifting this struggling community. The unique endeavour known as the Animal Tracks Pottery project, restores to the Koulara community their traditional pottery skills, but for the production of high value ornaments and souvenirs instead of bricks. The project which was introduced to the village community of Koulara a few months ago, sought to encourage the community to abandon occupations as unskilled labour and embrace a more sustainable and rewarding livelihood, that involves a revival of their ancient tradition.
The villagers are provided training in pottery through the guidance of an MJF Foundation resource person one of Sri Lankas most talented pottery craftsmen. The villagers who are guided in producing ornaments and jewellery from clay draw inspiration from their natural surroundings. Footprints of elephants, leopard and other animals in the nearby Uda Walawe National Park could be found on many of the items created. Within months of the projects commencement the villagers have surpassed expectations and their dedication to their new livelihood is articulated in every item they create.
Animal Tracks is unique in its objectives, which is primarily to build upon the energy, creativity and commitment of a hitherto marginalised community by giving them the tools to take charge of their economic destiny, and secondly to inculcate greater environmental sensibility by demonstrating the interdependence of human, animal and plant life. Through the Local Heroes initiative the Animal Tracks project will be replicated in other villages around Sri Lanka, thereby empowering impoverished communities to regain their relevance and prosperity, in a dignified and traditional manner.
On 27th & 28th October 2007, the MJF Foundation will showcase the work of the villagers of Koulara, by facilitating an exhibition of their handmade pottery at Sri Lankas premier venue for art & design, the Barefoot Gallery. It is the first step in an effort to support the villagers in bringing their produce direct to consumers, and selling them with full benefit to the villagers themselves rather than middlemen at any level. The project will demonstrate that business is indeed a matter of human service and use the network of the MJF Foundation and Dilmah in bringing the talent of the Koulara community to the attention of potential clients, whilst helping the community to continue their journey in a sustainable and independent manner. |
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Dilmah: Empowering the Differently Abled through AIDEX 2009 |
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25.10.2009
The AIDEX (Aid to the Ex-Abled) Annual Sports Festival is organized by the Colombo Friend-in-Need Society which helps supply limbs for artificial limb users throughout ... |
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Ethical Pappadam from our Moneragala Local Hero |
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30.06.2009 In 2007, Dharmadasa and Sumanawathie, his wife, were the proud but exploited owners of a small, mud walled ‘factory’ in which they produced pappadam, ... |
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Charity tea pot sale to rebuild a school |
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In May 2009 Dilmah together with Hilton Colombo launched an innovative charity tea pot programme to raise funds to build a school for a rural village in Sri Lanka. This ... |
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MJF Foundation facilitates Dignified Reintegration for 113 Reformed Prisoners |
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22.04.2009 The ‘Reform and Integrate’ Programme of the MJF Charitable Foundation is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, and quite likely in ... |
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