La Kri Vi Colombo Diocese
The La-Kri-Vi Movement is a Roman Catholic voluntary organization working for the integral development of Sri Lankan Children irrespective of race, religion or gender. The movement has steadily grown to be one of the largest children’s movements in this country. Presently, it has a membership of over 15000 children in 400 village level ‘cells’ under the guidance of over 800 youth volunteers who serve as “promoters” (animators) of the movement.
The movement is based on the natural tendency of children everywhere to form themselves into groups for play or other activities which provides a forum for them to come together in an atmosphere of freedom where they can be themselves and share their joys and sorrows as well as their views on matters impinging on their lives. Pedagogically, the movement attempts to harness the demonstrated capacity of children to initiate “transforming actions” i.e. actions that bring positive changes in their physical and human environment.
The children are also enabled to develop their leadership skills and other talents through the activities of the urban/rural cells and through district level programmes. The movement is open to all children between 5 to 15 years of age
The youth volunteers who serve as animators are also provided with adequate training in child-centre community development work. They are enabled to update themselves in refresher courses and other on-going orientation programmes. These training programmes are held in various La-Kri-Vi districts – cluster of 6 to 10 children’s cells.
Over the years, the movements has successfully implemented several projects and activities to raise the awareness of its membership and also enabled them to engage themselves in transforming actions in their respective communities. Each year, the movement selects a topical theme which servs as the focus of its “year campaign”. All major activities undertaken at cell – district – and national – levels during the year are based on the selected theme.
Besides these, the children of the movement have implemented various other mini projects too numerous to mention. However in all these activities, these children were able not only to gain confidence in their own ability to initiate transforming actions but also to bring about desirable changes in the attitudes of their parents and other adults in the community. Thus their actions have had a significant impact on all those who were “touched” by their little efforts.
The movement organizes leadership training camps and other theme – based programmes in order to enhance the capacities of the children so that they could perform better as more efficient agents in their milieu. At the same time, the movement lays much emphasis on the religious dimension of these activities. The children are encouraged to see the relationship between their respective religious values and their actions. The evaluation sessions that follow all cell activities help children to deepen their faith while the presence and sharing of children of other faiths serve to promote their understanding and respect for others’ religious convictions and practices, which is very necessary in a multi – religious society like ours.
Vision:
The movement stirs up the dynamism, creative potential and idealism of children to be active participants in transforming their own destiny. It endeavors to create a new world through the initiative of children themselves, a world which enhances their growth and freedom, a world which rejects accumulation of wealth and power at the expense of the poor masses.
Objectives:
(A) To promote a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development among children in a healthy and stimulating environment.
(B) To promote their leadership and self-development capacity through practical community – oriented actions and to enable them to play an active role in their civic and religious life.
(C) To promote and safeguard the right of children and denounce all forms of child abuse and violence.
(D) To lay a solid foundation for nurturing values in multi religious cultures through a life – based religious formation and exposure and the appreciation of one another’s religious traditions and beliefs.
(E) To promote inter – racial harmony and appreciation of diverse cultures.
Mission of the Movement
To create an atmosphere for children of all races and nationalities to be united in love and live there own religious values while respecting of other religions. To be united in order to build a new world, which will transform the present society marked by evil injustice and violence. To cereal a world which enhances the growth and freedom of children with set of good morals and disciplined.
Legal Status
international movement of the apostate of children (IMAC) in fence in 1929 for the children affect by the french revaluation, by Rev. Fr. Gaston Kurthuwa. in Sri Lanka this Movement originated as the initiative of an oblate French pries Rev. Fr. Felix Mevel. (OMI) in 1954 with the approval of the church. the movement was affiliated to the IMAC in 1968 as La-Kri-Vi Movement of Sri Lanka.
Function
The basic unit of the movement is the “cell” consisting of a group of children. Presently there are 400 cells spread throughout the Island with a membership of 15000 children. The decision making body consists of children of each cell, and hence every child participate in the decision making process. We propose to increase the membership through orientation proggrammes.
The cell is animated by training youth who are mainly former members of the movement. Their task is to facilitate the weekly encounters of the children. They are also responsible for the intellectual growth of the children.
A few cells (between 6-10 cells) form an area (District). There is an area coordinator, elected among the animators, and he/she is responsible to create solidarity among the children of an area. This is very vital for networking. He / She is assisted by a six member team who bear various responsibilities such as recruitment of new animators, education of children, promotion of communication skills and finance management. Each Diocese has priest appointed as the diocesan Chaplain to coordinate with the National Director. The overall function of the movement is executed by the National Office at Colombo 10, (Maradana).
