As part of their countrywide response to the effects caused by the tsunami and responding to requests from the Government of Sri Lanka, the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) an arm of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, has been involved in providing support to psycho-social counseling in tsunami affected schools since early this year. Recently GTZ on behalf of the German Government, provided teaching/learning and sports material worth Rupees 3 million to counselors of 35 schools in the Southern Province affected by the tsunami, as part of the process of sensitizing and training experts and counselors on mental health and disaster, crisis intervention and psychological first aid, acute stress reaction and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The function to mark the event of handing over the material to 35 schools conducting counseling programs in the Southern Province was held at Southlands College Galle, under the patronage of Mr. Shan Wijelal, Chief Minister of the Southern Provincial Council.

Dr Gerhard Huck, programme Coordinator of the GTZ supported Basic Education Sector Programme (BESP) who was present at the occasion expressed hope that in spite of the enormous disaster caused by the tsunami, the overwhelming response that followed from the national and international community can be a catalyst for new opportunities and new collaboration beyond traditional ethnic borders.

Two new publications Child Mental Health and Joyful Living in Sinhala and Tamil, prepared in cooperation with the National Institute of Education (NIE), the University of Jaffna, Unicef, Plan Sri Lanka and others, will soon be launched to assist in psycho-social care throughout the country. The NIE is already in the process of training school principals and more than 300 counselors and will extend training to all teachers, based on the new books.

Previously, GTZ on behalf of the German Government provided learning material such as exercise books, school bags, water bottles, drawing books to a total of 6000 students and distributed 52 bicycles among students affected by tsunami in the Hambantota District, in order to facilitate their schooling.

While it was emphasized that the distribution of material to support psycho-social counseling is only a small part of the German Government’s total response to supporting the Government of Sri Lanka recover from the tsunami, Dr. Huck on behalf of GTZ assured that they are continuing their support beyond the reconstruction needs caused by the tsunami in the South, North and East of the country.