“Child Friendly Community (CFC) Libraries Managed by

Children:In a Conflict Affected Area of Sri Lanka” by Lionel R. Amarakoon

lionel@savethechildren.lk

Objective of the CFC Libraries

• Is to increase children’s knowledge and skills and thereby protect them from their life challenges

• It has also helped them to learn cooperation and encourage of self-expressions and creativity

• It has help them to learn and encourage of language through conversation, story telling and singing

Establishment of CFC Libraries

• 54 child friendly community libraries were established in the district of Anuradhapura in the following DS Divisions:

Wilachchiya, Welioya, Kahatagasdigiliya, Madyama Nuwara gampalatha, Galnewa and Palagala.

Anuradapura Map

Child Issues

• Incest in families• School dropouts• Child Labour• Sexual harassment • Teenage pregnancies• Attempted Suicide

Strategies identified by children to reduce their vulnerabilities

• Using street theatre • Peer to Peer education• Development of IEC materials• Establishment of 54 children’s clubs/child

libraries

Libraries Managed by Children…

Bring Children together Secure Place for Children to

Discuss Issues

which are important to them and identify ways to address these issues.

Access Reliable Information

Helped to Reduce the Incidence of Alcoholism

Through children developing and performing street dramasEquipping the children with skills to help reduce the alcohol

Consumption of their fathers through for e.g. Talking about the issue with their fathers when they are sober

Open Access Library System

• Free-standing Library Shelves• Classification of books using DDC 21st edition.• Shelf guides and Library Guide Book• ‘Plan of Action’ of the Library• Organization of Non-book materials• Organization of Library Extension activities• ‘Community Information Cells’

Lessons Learnt• Providing children with the information and skills to

influence their lives is more sustainable than simply providing them with material support.

• A Team approach is more effective and sustainable than working alone

• The skills they inculcate through the programme help them to addressed issues.

• ‘CFC Libraries’ is a very good initiative for increasing child participation and decision-making

• Reading not only is treated as a source of gathering knowledge but it should also be a form of hobby and entertainment.

Library Building Before Renovation

Library Building After Renovations

Children’s Club Library Members at the Mobile Service at Divisional Secretariat

Banner highlighting Migrant Mothers Issue

Banner highlighting Migrant Mothers Issue

Banner highlighting the alcoholism issue

Child Librarian at the Communications Workshop

HIV/AIDS Workshop

Situation Analysis

Shramadana at Sri Maha Bodhi

Anti Drugs Street March

Shramadana at Wilachchiya

Child librarian issuing books

At the Bosevana Children’s Library

Serious Library Readers

What they brought to thefair

Children reading books

Eagerly waiting to Borrow books

Summer Hut Outside the Library

Prabath – Core Group Member/Child Librarian

Divisional Secretary Wilachchiya

Poster displayed in a library

Inauguration of the Basic Library Skills Workshop

Ven. Thanthirimale Chandraratne Thero

Non book materials in the Library

Non Book Materials in the library

Children’s Conference at Anuradhapura