Bethany Keener
Wednesday, January 18, 2006

ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network) — Though the young adults will most likely be sleeping in tents, this will be no ordinary summer camp-out.

Since the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami, many Sri Lankan survivors are living in tents or makeshift wood structures. From July 12-Aug. 3, a dozen Youth Venture participants will live in similar arrangements while helping build permanent homes of concrete block. The team will also volunteer at Lankahara Society, an orphanage for girls.

Youth Venture participants will have opportunities for sightseeing, building relationships and learning about Sri Lankan culture. Young adults, ages 18-25, are invited to apply. More information and an application are available in the Christian Service section of www.mennonitemission.net.
 
Youth Venture director Arloa Bontrager said the goal of the program is to “increase participants’ understanding of the world while demonstrating God’s love through their lives and work.” In this case, the U.S. group will have the opportunity to work alongside Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims.

“All faiths preach assisting people in distress,” said Ganesh De Silva, who will coordinate and lead the team.

Originally of Sri Lanka, De Silva has been working at the rebuilding efforts through the Elkhart 2 Sri Lanka Alliance since just days after the storm. As a Buddhist, he would like to see more interfaith dialogue, especially when centered on the common goal of helping those in need.

Through his work with the Sri Lankan organization Biodiversity and Elephant Conservation Trust and the Rotary Club of Panadura, De Silva has designed houses to be built in Panama and Ruvingama, villages founded since the tsunami.

The homes the Youth Venture team will help build are 600 square feet and consist of a kitchen, living room, bathroom and two bedrooms. A new home built with local materials and volunteer labor costs around $3,000. De Silva said new zoning laws ensure that the people who are most in need of housing receive it.

Lankahara Society also was affected by the tsunami. Begun in the 1920s by De Silva’s great-grandmother, the orphanage provided a home to 70 girls, from infants to 18-year-olds. Following the storm, 25 newly orphaned girls were placed in the orphanage. De Silva hopes to help expand the capabilities of the orphanage through a career center that will teach young women skills like sewing and cooking.

 

 

 Related

 

 

Mennonite Mission Network now scheduling autumn Just Peace PilgrimagesJust Peace Pilgrimagehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4902/autumn-Just-Peace-PilgrimagesMennonite Mission Network now scheduling autumn Just Peace PilgrimagesGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Mission Network seminars at MennoCon23 for all agesMennoCon23https://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4890/seminars-at-MennoCon23Mission Network seminars at MennoCon23 for all agesGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Medical mission worker in Taiwan leaves legacy of teaching and compassionate careObituaryhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4903/Medical-mission-worker-in-Taiwan-leaves-legacy-of-teaching-and-compassionate-careMedical mission worker in Taiwan leaves legacy of teaching and compassionate careGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Hualien
Peace pins serve as a reminder for congregationsPeace pinshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4898/Peace-pins-serve-as-a-reminder-for-congregationsPeace pins serve as a reminder for congregationsGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
A broader movement in church propertiesMennonite Voluntary Servicehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4896/A-broader-movementA broader movement in church propertiesGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Washington
Mennonites in Burkina Faso request prayer as they speak out against military taxationMilitary Taxationhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4897/Mennonites-in-Burkina-Faso-request-prayer-as-they-speak-out-against-military-taxationMennonites in Burkina Faso request prayer as they speak out against military taxationGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Miriam Graber Schrock left loving memories in BrazilObituaryhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4895/Miriam-Graber-Schrock-left-loving-memories-in-BrazilMiriam Graber Schrock left loving memories in BrazilGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Shared Voices version three is availableShared Voiceshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4892/Shared-Voices-version-threeShared Voices version three is availableGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Neta Faye Yoder served God’s people in Japan for 35 yearsObituaryhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4888/Neta-Faye-Yoder-served-Gods-people-in-JapanNeta Faye Yoder served God’s people in Japan for 35 yearsGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Iowa
For Mennonites in Ethiopia, human analysis follows Holy Spirit’s guidanceMeserete Kristos Churchhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4883/For-Mennonites-in-Ethiopia-human-analysis-follows-Holy-Spirit’s-guidanceFor Mennonites in Ethiopia, human analysis follows Holy Spirit’s guidanceGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
A ministry of accompanimentObituaryhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4882/ministry-of-accompanimentA ministry of accompanimentGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Eunice Miller sparked resistance to injusticeLatin Americahttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4885/Miller-sparked-resistance-to-injusticeEunice Miller sparked resistance to injusticeGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Buenos Aires
Bonita Landis Driver embodied God’s love on three continentsWomen's History Monthhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4869/Bonita-Landis-Driver-embodied-God’s-love-on-three-continentsBonita Landis Driver embodied God’s love on three continentsGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Martine Audéoud publishes Research as WorshipResearch as Worshiphttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4868/Martine-Audéoud-publishes-Research-as-WorshipMartine Audéoud publishes Research as WorshipGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Irene Lehman Weaver promoted learning before teaching in mission contextWomen's History Monthhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4866/Irene-Lehman-Weaver-promoted-learning-before-teaching-in-mission-contextIrene Lehman Weaver promoted learning before teaching in mission contextGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476

 

 

 

 

Mennonite Mission Network now scheduling autumn Just Peace Pilgrimageshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4902/autumn-Just-Peace-PilgrimagesMennonite Mission Network now scheduling autumn Just Peace Pilgrimages
Mission Network seminars at MennoCon23 for all ageshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4890/seminars-at-MennoCon23Mission Network seminars at MennoCon23 for all ages
Medical mission worker in Taiwan leaves legacy of teaching and compassionate carehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4903/Medical-mission-worker-in-Taiwan-leaves-legacy-of-teaching-and-compassionate-careMedical mission worker in Taiwan leaves legacy of teaching and compassionate care
Peace pins serve as a reminder for congregationshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4898/Peace-pins-serve-as-a-reminder-for-congregationsPeace pins serve as a reminder for congregations
A broader movement in church propertieshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4896/A-broader-movementA broader movement in church properties
Mennonites in Burkina Faso request prayer as they speak out against military taxationhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4897/Mennonites-in-Burkina-Faso-request-prayer-as-they-speak-out-against-military-taxationMennonites in Burkina Faso request prayer as they speak out against military taxation



 

 

Mennonite Mission Network now scheduling autumn Just Peace Pilgrimageshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4902/autumn-Just-Peace-PilgrimagesMennonite Mission Network now scheduling autumn Just Peace PilgrimagesJust Peace Pilgrimage
Mission Network seminars at MennoCon23 for all ageshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4890/seminars-at-MennoCon23Mission Network seminars at MennoCon23 for all agesMennoCon23
Solar energy brings healing to land and communitieshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/blog/4901/Solar-energy-brings-healingSolar energy brings healing to land and communitiesSolar energy
Medical mission worker in Taiwan leaves legacy of teaching and compassionate carehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4903/Medical-mission-worker-in-Taiwan-leaves-legacy-of-teaching-and-compassionate-careMedical mission worker in Taiwan leaves legacy of teaching and compassionate careObituary
Civil rights learning tour recap: days one and twohttps://www.mennonitemission.net/blog/4904/Civil-rights-learning-tour-recap-days-one-and-twoCivil rights learning tour recap: days one and twoJust Peace Pilgrimage
Peace pins serve as a reminder for congregationshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4898/Peace-pins-serve-as-a-reminder-for-congregationsPeace pins serve as a reminder for congregationsPeace pins